The Benue State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking to provide free treatment for snakebite victims in government hospitals across the state.
The legislation, which passed its third reading during plenary, is aimed at removing financial barriers that often delay access to medical care, particularly for farmers and other rural residents who face a higher risk of snakebite.
The passage followed a public hearing at which stakeholders in the health sector highlighted the need for accessible and timely treatment. The sitting was presided over by the Speaker of the Assembly, Berger Alfred Emberga.
Speaking on the bill, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, Matthew Damkor, representing Tiev State Constituency, described snakebite as a serious but often neglected public health challenge in rural communities.
Damkor said the proposed law would eliminate the financial burden that prevents victims from seeking prompt medical attention and establish a structured system for responding to snakebite cases across the state.
The Speaker also described the legislation as timely, noting that snakebite incidents pose a significant risk to rural communities, particularly farmers who frequently encounter snakes while working on farms.
Globally, snakebite remains a major public health concern, with the World Health Organization estimating that about 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes annually.
Between 1.8 million and 2.7 million of those cases result in envenoming, while an estimated 81,410 to 137,880 people die each year from snakebite-related complications. Agricultural workers and children are among the groups most affected.
The WHO says severe snakebite can cause paralysis, potentially leading to respiratory failure, bleeding disorders, kidney failure and extensive tissue damage that may result in permanent disability or amputation.
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It also identifies prompt access to appropriate antivenom as a key measure for preventing deaths and serious complications.
The burden is particularly difficult to quantify in rural communities because many victims do not reach formal health facilities and may instead rely on traditional remedies. The WHO notes that under-reporting can be substantial in areas with poor healthcare infrastructure.
The proposed Benue legislation also builds on previous efforts to provide free snakebite treatment in the state. Former Governor Samuel Ortom had supported free treatment for snakebite victims through facilities including Bishop Murray Hospital, Rahama Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi.
In 2023, Ortom said his intervention had supported the treatment of 2,917 snakebite victims between 2016 and 2022, while 64 people died from recorded cases during the period. He also said more than N680 million had been spent on the intervention.
Earlier reports also documented the financial burden of treatment on victims, many of whom were peasant farmers.
In 2021, Bishop Murray Hospital officials said more than 700 snakebite patients had received free treatment through Ortom’s intervention, with the cost of treatment for some patients reported to be as high as N800,000.
The new legislation seeks to move such interventions from individual or administrative support into a formal state-backed framework covering government hospitals across Benue.
The bill will, however, require assent by Governor Hyacinth Alia before it becomes law. If assented to and implemented, the measure would provide a statutory basis for free snakebite treatment for eligible victims in government hospitals, potentially improving access to urgent care for residents in rural and farming communities.
The passage comes as health authorities continue to stress the importance of early treatment in snakebite cases, with the WHO warning that delays in accessing appropriate antivenom can increase the risk of severe complications and death.
Daily Trust
