Cases of snakebites have been on the increase in this country in recent weeks, especially in some Northern states. Two hundred and fifty victims of snake bite have reportedly died in the last three weeks in Plateau and Gombe states. Reports blamed the high mortality rate on the acute scarcity of snake anti-venom in the country. Anti-snake venom drugs Echitab Plus ICP polyvalent and Echitab G monovalent have not been supplied to this country since August, throwing the treatment centres in Plateau and Gombe states into crisis after the last vials were used up in the first week of October.
Echitab Plus ICP, produced at Instituto Clodomiro Picado, University of Costa Rica, treats bites from all venomous snakes in Nigeria while Echitab G, produced by Micropharm Ltd, United Kingdom is solely for carpet viper venom. Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has however debunked the rumour that government has run out of stock of anti-snake venom. The Health Minister said the Ministry still has some anti-snake venom vials from the 2016 procurement from which states and other treatment centres were issued upon request. He blamed the states for their refusal to comply with the new procedure of request, leading to their inability to access the product from the ministry.
Adewole said, “The Federal Government is however working on Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for local production of anti-snake bite venom which will make the product available, affordable and accessible.” This is rather good news but what is more worrisome is that despite the severity of the problem, relevant authorities do not appear to be doing enough to put adequate control on what could best be described as a national crisis.
For a perennial problem that has plagued a large swathe of the country for ages, our response has lacked method and rationality. First, why are anti-venom drugs still being imported by Nigeria? Second, how could they be scarce at the most critical time? If appropriate quarters were alive to their duties, the treatment centres would be well stocked at this time. It is bad enough that we cannot produce anti-snake venom and even worse that we run out of stock. We have cultivated the habit of treating matters with levity until they snowball out of control. We insist that snakebites should be given due priority without further delay.
This period of the year, soon after the rains cease, is when snakes are on the prowl. Snakes usually attack people when they are threatened, picked up or mistakenly trodden on, though some cobras and black mambas can be cocky. Such attacks can become deadly if not treated quickly. Less than 10 per cent of snakebite victims are said to visit hospitals in Nigeria when bitten. To highlight the severity of the problem, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report shows that Nigeria record 174 snakebites per 100,000 people per annum. The carpet viper or saw-scaled snake has been blamed for about 90 per cent of bites, out of which 60 per cent of the cases eventually result in deaths.
With the current realities on ground, we should embark on public enlightenment among rural communities on how to prevent snakebites. More medical personnel should be trained throughout the country, beginning with the areas in the north where cases are rampant, as this would reduce deaths associated with poor handling. People should clear overgrown grasses around their homes and stop attracting snakebite attacks to themselves. They should avoid leaving their doors carelessly open in an alleged bid to get fresh air. Snakes are stealthy and very quiet, making it difficult to monitor their movement.
Finally, a more sustainable effort should involve manufacturing anti-snake venom locally, perhaps through Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) to increase access and minimise adulteration. The government should painstakingly identify serious local organisations with requisite experience that could come in at this critical moment.
