HEALTH: 194 Victims of Snakebite Treated, Record one Death in 2023--BSPHDA
By Adamu IMAM Bauchi
194 Snakebite has been treated and only one patient recorded death in the year 2023, confirmed by the Bauchi state primary health care development agency during a press conference to mark the 2024 World Neglected Tropical Diseases NTDs Day, held at the Emergency Operation Center EOC on Friday
The agency boss Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed explained that there were 92 males and 102 females treated for snakebites during the period while 13 of them were found to be free from snake venoms just as 196 others are using Echitab plus Anti-Snake venoms (ASV) tablets.
The BASPHCDA EC assured that medical personnel manning the State Snakebite Hospital in Duguri have been well trained from different centres across the country and have been motivated by the government to perform their duty
According to him, "The State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has spent millions of Naira to ensure that the Hospital became well equipped and functional."
He added that, "Victims of snakebites have now stopped going to Kaltungo in Gombe State for medical care. In fact, victims from Plateau State now come there for treatment."
Rilwanu Mohammed added that the consumables and other things required for the treatment of snakebites are readily available at the Hospital while the drugs have been made to become revolving in order to ensure availability and affordability.
He said that, "Today, we gathered to commemorate World NTDs Day for the year 2024, as declared by the World Health Assembly. The theme for this year's celebration is "Unite, Act, Eliminate NTDs.The aim is to raise awareness, assess progress, and outline future steps for elimination."
According to him, "Bauchi State has been thoroughly mapped for all five Preventive Chemotherapy (PC) Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), including Onchocerciasis (River blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis, Schistosomiasis (Blood in urine), Trachoma, and Soil Transmitted Helminths."
Rilwanu Mohammed however said that, "Unfortunately, the results indicate that we are endemic for all except Soil Transmitted Helminths, with the following distribution across the state."
He stated that Onchocerciasis (River blindness) is found 12 LGAs, Lymphatic Filariasis (Swelling of limbs) in 11 LGAs, Schistosomiasis (Blood in urine) in 19 LGAs while Trachoma (Eye lashes rubbing on eye ball) in 2 LGAs.
He stressed that these diseases have severe economic and well-being repercussion as Federal, State, and Supporting partners (MITOSATH/THE
ENDFUND, UNICEF, and HANDS) have jointly made substantial efforts to eliminate the diseases.
The BASPHCDA EC added that in the review year (2023), the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD elimination unit conducted the following activities: Treated 3,697,578 individuals for Onchocerciasis with support from MITOSATH/ENDFUND."
The unit also Treated 874,974 individuals for Lymphatic Filariasis support from MITOSATH/ENDFUND and Treated 1,212,623 individuals for Schistosomiasis wit support from MITOSATH/ENDFUND.
Furthermore, it Operated on 750 people for hydrocele in Ganjuwa, Bogoro, Warji, and Tafawa-Balewa LGAs with support from MITOSATH/ENDFUND and Trained 15 patients and 9 health workers on Lymphoedema Management with support from MITOSATH/ENDFUND.
The unit also Conducted Pre-TAS in 2 LGAS (Darazo and Ganjuwa) support from MITOSATH/ENDFUND and Carried out TAS 1 in 7 LGAS (Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro Misau, Giade, Itas/Gadau, Warji, and Toro) with support from MITOSATH/ENDFUND.
He added that the unit also conducted Epidemiological Evaluation in 16 LGAs with support from MITOSATH/ENDFUND, Operated on people with Trachomatous Trichiasis in LGAs and Executed community mobilization on WASH-NTD collaborations/Hygiene promotion activities with support from UNICEF.
The future plans of the Agency on handling NTDs, he said that it will Perform more hydrocele surgery and Lymphoedema Management in LGAs and Conduct LF assessments (Pre-TAS) in Alkaleri and Ningi LGAs.
The Agency will also Carry out TAS1 in Darazo, Ganjuwa, Alkaleri, and Ningi LGAs while for Schisto, it Conduct MAM in 12 LGAs for Oncho/LF and 19 LGAs for others.
Rilwanu Mohammed said that all these future activities will be carried out with support from MITOSATH/ENDFUND saying, "We appeal for increased support from the Bauchi State Government to facilitate the elimination of NTDs in the state."