SNAKEBITES AS HEALTH CHALLENGE

Health authorities could do more to stem the menace

One of the most neglected public health problems in Nigeria today is snakebite which reportedly has a mortality rate of 12 per cent. More disturbing is that despite hundreds of people dying in the country annually from snakebites, authorities in the health sector do not take the challenge seriously. From north to south, inhabitants of our rural communities are frequent victims as they go about their daily food production and animal rearing activities, and sometimes even in the comfort of their homes. Unfortunately, many of these snakebite cases go unreported and thus do not appear in official epidemiological statistics. Besides, most health workers have little or no formal training in the management of snakebite.   

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), snake bite particularly affects the most vulnerable members of society which is why appropriate policies need to be put in place to tackle the menace. Perhaps the problem is economic. Treating snakebite requires at least two vials of anti-snake venom but with one vial costing as much as N85,000, most Nigerians in rural areas cannot afford the medication. While many resort to traditional healing methods, the absence of any structure makes them risky. States with the most cases of snakebite are Gombe, Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Nasarawa, Enugu, Kogi, Kebbi, Oyo, Benue, and Taraba.

Against the background that guidelines for the prevention and clinical management of snakebite have been developed by WHO/AFRO, we should not be witnessing the number of fatalities being recorded in the country. These guidelines, developed at the request of the federal government two decades ago, are meant to assist health workers to improve medical care for snakebite victims. They are also to serve as a source of information for the public on how snakebite can be deadly if not treated quickly.   

While the right anti-venom can save a snakebite victim’s life, getting to an emergency room as quickly as possible is also very important. If properly treated, many snake bites will not have serious effects. But the cost seems prohibitive. Since most of the victims are mainly subsistence farmers, it is important for the government to subsidize the treatment or make the anti-venom available in primary healthcare facilities. ‎Besides, government, at all levels, must strengthen public clinics and hospitals as well as engage residents of rural communities in enlightenment campaign on preventive measures.   

In 2011, the federal government promised to make Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) available and affordable but insisted on preventive strategies.‎ That led to the establishment of the Nigeria/UK Echitab Study Group to research and develop ASV, while exploring ways of providing free treatment for snakebite victims. The inauguration of the structure that houses the Echitab Snakebite Control and Research Centre in Kaltungo in Gombe State was part of the collaborative efforts aimed at finding lasting solutions to the menace of snakebite in the country. It has over the years developed three different brands of ASV, using venom extracted from local snakes purposely to address the Nigerian situation.   

While the idea to increase research activities and prepare room for the development of ASV in the country is good, there is an urgent need for sustained public enlightenment, particularly among dwellers of rural communities. They should be told how to prevent snakebites and what to do as first aid when someone is bitten. To ensure the availability of the ASV before local

production of the drugs begins, government should import large quantities. It is also important to train medical personnel to effectively manage cases of snakebite early since the venom usually worsens the health of victims by the minute and increases their likelihood of succumbing to death because of its potency.