PATIENTS STORM SNAKE BITE HOSPITAL IN GOMBE OVER INCREASED ATTACK

The central Nigeria state of Gombe said it had awarded a N500 million contract for the building of a 250-bed capacity Snake Bite Treatment Hospital, commissioner foe Health. Dr. Kennedy Ishaya said.

Snake bites are common in this part of Nigeria, with the Snake Bite Treatment and Research Centre, Kaltungo in the state, receiving 10-11 patients daily. The bites are mainly from Rattle Snake.

In Africa, an estimated one million snake bites occur, with Nigeria having an estimated incidence of snake bites to the ratio of 174 per 100,000 persons.

Apart from Gombe, the other states mostly affected by the menace of snake bite were Taraba, Plateau, Enugu, Kogi, Oyo, Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa and Niger.

(NAN).