The experts spoke with newsmen on Sunday in Lagos, following the death of Abuja-based music talent Ifunanya Nwangene, who reportedly visited two hospitals unable to administer antivenom before she passed away.
Speaking, the 1st Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State, Dr Ewonowo Temidire, said the primary and secondary healthcare facilities should be equipped/repositioned to effectively treat snakebites.
Temidire underscored the need to provide the primary and secondary health facilities in the communities and rural areas with the requisites to effectively manage snakebite cases.
He said this included training and retraining of the healthcare workers, ensuring steady supply and availability of quality antivenom, provision of basic equipment and adequate funding of the healthcare facilities.
“Ensuring good quality of any available antivenom and provision of free/subsidised treatment, as well as readily availability of oxygen in the health facilities are practicable measures that can be explored by the government,” he said.
He identified inter-sectoral collaboration between the health facilities, traditional healers and faith-based organisations as another vital approach to enhancing snakebites management outcomes.
According to him, the collaboration will create and promote effective referral windows where the traditional healers/religious bodies will easily refer victims of snakebites to appropriate healthcare facilities where they can get adequate treatment.
“Oftentimes, patients with snakebites cases resort to prayers houses and tradition healers, who may transform a treatable condition into a life-threatening emergency.
“Snakebites are never treated in prayer houses. With effective synergy and sensitisation, if any snakebite case comes to the traditional healers, they will gladly refer such case to the appropriate hospitals.”
Temidire stated that tying or constricting a snake-bitten limb was no longer recommended in modern medical practice, warning that such action could worsen tissue damage and increase the risk of necrosis.
He highlighted other simple preventive measures, such as wearing protective footwear, using mosquito nets, carrying torches at night, and avoiding snake habitats, saying that could significantly reduce the risk, especially in rural areas.
Contributing, the Pioneer Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi, urged health workers to avail themselves with the special trainings on snakebites management.
Nasidi, also the Chairman, EchiTAb Study Group, Nigeria, explained that the Federal Ministry of Health had a special programme on snakebites and carried out such trainings from time to time.
According to him, Nigeria already had some antivenoms called EchiTAb, specifically developed and produced against venomous snakes.
“The country has acquired and distributes effective and highly specific antivenoms to our venomous snakes areas for short term solution.
“For long term solution, efforts should be made to address the issue of self-sufficiency by establishing local production,” Nasidi said.(NAN)
