By Peter Duru, Makurdi
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has donated 100 vials of Panaf Premium Anti-Snake Venom, ASV, valued at over N25 million, to the Benue State Government to support the treatment of snakebite victims and check recent deaths recorded across the state.
The intervention is aimed at reducing illness and deaths associated with snakebites, while easing the financial burden on victims and their families due to the high cost of anti-snake venom.
The consignment was formally presented on Friday at the headquarters of the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services in Makurdi.
Presenting the items, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, said the donation demonstrated the proactive leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the ministry’s commitment to using strategic partnerships to address critical health challenges.
Ogwuche commended Governor Alia for his sustained commitment to improving healthcare delivery and protecting the lives and wellbeing of residents, while also appreciating the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Aliu Pate, and the Federal Ministry for responding positively to the state’s request for assistance.
According to him, the Federal Government’s intervention would complement the efforts of the Alia administration to make essential healthcare services more accessible, particularly to vulnerable residents.
He said the availability of the anti-snake venom would “reduce the financial burden on affected families and improve access to prompt treatment for victims of snakebite.”
The commissioner assured that the Ministry would ensure proper documentation, storage, distribution and rational utilisation of the consignment to guarantee that the lifesaving medicine reaches patients who genuinely require it.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Cephas Hough, expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for the timely intervention.
Hough said the donation would strengthen Benue’s capacity to respond to snakebite cases while easing the treatment burden on affected residents.
He particularly commended Ogwuche for his proactive engagement with the Federal Ministry, which facilitated the attraction of the donation to the state, adding that the intervention underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between the Federal and State Governments in tackling critical public health challenges.
The consignment was subsequently handed over to the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Regina Agir, for documentation, storage and warehousing in line with established pharmaceutical management procedures.
The ceremony was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Directors and other senior officials of the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services.
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