DAILY TRUST (Abuja, Nigeria) 16 March 06 Anti-Snake Venom Experts Visit Nigeria (Waziri Isa Gwantu)

An Oxford University don and world class anti-snake venom expert, Professor David Warrell, has expressed his determination to rid Nigeria of snake-bite pandemic, which has claimed many lives across the country, particularly at Kaltungo and Lantang in Gombe and Plateau states respectively.

Professor Warrell, formerly of Ahmadu Bello Unive-rsity (ABU), Zaria, who is the head of a three-man delegation to the country told Daily Trust Tuesday that they were in the country to assess the progress being made in combating the pandemic and to alleviate the sufferings of victims of snake-bites through provisions of enough anti-snake venom and improving facilities at hospitals where such patients are receiving treatment.

Accompanied by Professor David Theakston, Head of Alistair Reid Venom Research unit of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and Dr. John Garnuwa, a research fellow in the same school, Professor Warrell also promised to offer assistance in training indigenous man-powers who would be involved in the efforts to control the menace not only at Kaltungo and Lantang, but in the whole country.

Snake-bites, according to him, had led to the loss of lives of many people in Nigeria, where different types of dangerous snakes exist.

He commended the Nigerian government for doing a lot in line with the partnership entered into with the United Kingdom to combat the snake menace in the country. He also commended the head of the group in Nigeria, Dr. Abdulsalam Nasidi and the chief medical director of Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Nandul Durfa, for their relentless efforts in executing the anti-snake venom project.

Commenting, Prof Theakston said considering the difficulties involved in the periodical importation of the anti-snake venom into the country from the United Kingdom, they were looking into the possibility of starting the production of the anti-snake venom in Nigeria.

He said given the extent of havoc caused by snakes in Nigeria, countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Egypt and England where the anti-snake venom is produced are willing to contribute their quota in the Nigeria's anti-snake venom project.
Anti-Snake Venom Experts Visit Nigeria

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