By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has donated 100 vials of Panaf Premium anti-snake venom worth N25 million to the Benue State Government, as part of efforts to reduce illness and deaths associated with snakebites across the country.
The consignment was formally presented on Friday, 7 August, 2026, at the headquarters of the Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services in Makurdi, coming amid growing concerns over rising snakebite cases in the state and the high cost of anti-snake venom, which often places a significant financial burden on affected families.
The intervention followed the death of a 14-year-old internally displaced boy, Chagu Terhemen, from Agagbe camp, who died after being bitten by a snake, one of several recent cases involving internally displaced persons in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, who presented the consignment, said the intervention reflected the proactive leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the commitment of the State Ministry of Health and Human Services to leveraging strategic partnerships to address critical health challenges.
He commended the governor for his sustained commitment to improving healthcare delivery and protecting the lives and wellbeing of residents of Benue State, while expressing appreciation to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Aliu Pate, and the Federal Ministry for responding positively to the state’s request for support.
Ogwuche explained that the Federal Government’s intervention would complement the efforts of the Alia administration to make essential healthcare services more accessible, particularly to vulnerable residents.
He noted that the availability of the anti-snake venom would reduce the financial burden on affected families and improve access to prompt treatment for snakebite victims, assuring that the ministry would ensure proper documentation, storage, distribution and rational utilisation of the consignment to guarantee that the lifesaving medicine reaches patients who genuinely require it.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Cephas Hough, expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for the timely intervention, noting that it would strengthen the state’s capacity to respond to snakebite cases while easing the treatment burden on affected residents.
Hough particularly commended the Commissioner for his proactive engagement with the Federal Ministry, which facilitated the attraction of the donation to Benue State, describing the intervention as evidence of the value of sustained collaboration between the Federal and state governments in addressing critical public health challenges.
The consignment was subsequently handed over to the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Pharmacist Regina Chi-Chi Agir, for documentation, storage and warehousing in accordance with established pharmaceutical management procedures.
