Poisonous Snakes On Rampage in Gombe
Daily Champion (Lagos)
November 21, 2004
Posted to the web November 22, 2004
Williams Attah
Gombe
POISONOUS snakes are on the rampage in Gombe State where 15 people have died so far from snake bites.
In addition, 850 other persons are in various stages of illness after the venomous snakes attacked them in various parts of Kaltungo local government area of the state.
The Mai Traditional ruler of Kaltungo, Mallam Saleh Mohammed raised a shrill alarm for help last week saved his people from further misery.
Briefing Governor Danjuma Goje in Gombe, the Mai said hospitals and clinics in the entire area were hosting the estimated 850 victims with some critically ill.
According to Mallam Mohammed, the situation had become worse as a result of the scarcity of the anti-snake bite venom. "We are completely out of stock," he told the governor.
He said that if unchecked, the epidemic would cause "a great disaster" in his domain which he said is known as a natural habit for very dangerous species of snakes.
He, however, commended the state government for renovating and furnishing hospitals in the entire state.
But he called for "serious attention" to be given to the provision of the anti-snake venoms if the desired success must be made in the area of health delivery, especially in Kaltungo.
The Mai said the snake menace was the reason why youths from the area usually migrate from the rural areas to the cities in search of safer pastures.
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Rusty