By Ahmad Umar
Gombe (Nigeria) — Gombe State Government, northeast Nigeria is to spend over 8 million naira on procurement of anti-snake venom .
Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo stated this on Thursday at the fourth State Council on Health meeting organised by the state ministry of health in collaboration with international NGOs, Save the Children, MamaYe E4A, Society for Family Health, Marie Stopes Nigeria, Pact and Cihp held in Federal College of Education (T) Gombe on Thursday.
He said that the state government already has released the funds to the Snake Bite Treatment Center in Kaltungo for the procurement of the venom to cater for snake bite victims from within and out site the state as well as neighbouring countries..
Dankwambo disclosed that the Treatment Centre received an average of 10 victims per day on regular bases and 19 per day during peak periods.
“It is due to this population increase, that the state government pay priority to the health sector through construction and reconstruction of more hospitals and clinics, as well as renovating and equipping the existing ones”, he said.
“I am also aware, that today 2ndNovember 2017 is a day set aside by the global community to commemorate World Pneumonia Day. The essence of the celebration is to create awareness and educate people on the fact that child death from pneumonia is preventable
“Regrettably, pneumonia is responsible for the deaths of many children. I am therefore pleased to be part of this celebration of triumph over one of the diseases that cause high mortality
“I assure you of government commitment to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity to the barest minimum in the state and we would continue to pay our counterpart funds to ensure attainment of the sustainable Development Goals as enshrined by the United Nation”, he said
The Governor commended the state ministry of health and development partners for organising the meeting aimed to improved health care service delivery in accordance with best practices.
