DAILY TRUST (Abuja, Nigeria) 07 February 06 Snake Bite Cases Reduce in Gombe (Muhammad Abubakar)
Rampant cases of snake bites leading to the death of many people in Kaltungo chiefdom of Gombe State, has reduced drastically as a result of measures taken by the traditional ruler of the area to arrest the situation.
The Mai of Kaltungo, Engr. Sale Muhammad, had early last year, placed a prize of N100 to N200 for each dead snake brought to his palace in an effort to rid the chiefdom of the menace of snake bites in the area which has become notorious over the years.
Speaking to Daily Trust in his palace yesterday, Engineer Sale Muhammad, who is also the deputy chairman of the Gombe State council of chiefs, said only one death was recorded last year from snake bite.
He said in the past, about 10 cases of death were being recorded almost every year as a result of snake bites such as the carpet viper making life very insecure for the people of the chiefdom.
"I can confidently tell you now that Kaltungo chiefdom is about 90 percent free from cases of snakebites as against some years ago. Only one death was recorded last year. In the previous two years, we recorded more than 13 deaths," said the royal father.
He attributed the success of the measures taken to curb the menace on the prize placed on each dead snake brought to his palace and the efforts of the people in the area to rid the chiefdom of this menace.
The Mai of Kaltungo also commended the state government for stocking the Kaltungo General Hospital with anti-snake venom as well as the local government council and wealthy individuals who assist to make the area free from snake bites.
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