Chima Azubuike
The Medical Director of the Snakebite Treatment and Research Hospital, Kaltungo, Gombe State, Dr Nicholas Amani-Hamman, has revealed that between January 2019 and November 2025, the hospital treated 17,925 snakebite victims, underscoring what health experts describe as a persistent but neglected public health crisis affecting rural communities.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that health experts continue to describe snakebite as a disease of poverty, predominantly affecting farmers, herders, women, and children in rural communities, groups who often face the greatest barriers to timely medical care.
Amani-Hamman said, “Of those treated within the six-year period, 326 patients died, representing a mortality rate of about 1.8 percent. Most of those deaths could have been prevented.
“When patients arrive early, survival is very high. Most deaths are linked to delay.”
According to him, the majority of cases came from rural farming communities in northeastern Nigeria, where residents are frequently exposed to snakes during farming, herding, and daily household activities.
“Gombe State alone accounted for 40 percent, that is 8,498 cases, followed by Taraba with 2,578, Adamawa with 2,318, and Bauchi with 2,307. We also recorded cases from Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Plateau, Abuja, Nasarawa, and even cross-border cases from Cameroon and Chad. The distribution highlights that snakebites are primarily a rural problem, particularly in villages near bushland and savannah areas,” he explained.
The Medical Director added that early presentation remains the most critical factor in survival.
“Patients who arrived within one to four hours of being bitten typically survived with minimal complications. Many patients, however, reached the hospital six to 24 hours later, while a significant number arrived one to three days after the bite. The delays are often associated with long distances from remote villages, limited transport options, and initial consultations with traditional healers,” he said.
He noted that a larger proportion of patients initially sought treatment from traditional healers or herbalists, particularly in rural communities where cultural practices are deeply rooted.
“Patients and families often rely on traditional healers due to cultural beliefs about snakebite being spiritual or mystical, the proximity of the healer to their homes, perceived lower cost, and transport challenges. In some cases, fear of hospital expenses, especially when there is no free antivenom, also drives the decision to first consult herbalists,” Amani-Hamman added.
Speaking on the consequences of delayed treatment, he warned that severe envenoming can result in life-threatening complications.
“The most dangerous snake in this region is the carpet viper. Its venom can cause severe bleeding, kidney failure, and tissue necrosis. When treatment is delayed, patients may require blood transfusions, dialysis support, or even surgery, including amputations,” he said.
He emphasised that while some snakebites are “dry bites” where no venom is injected, many cases involve serious envenoming that requires urgent administration of antivenom.
“Antivenom remains the only scientifically proven treatment for venomous snakebite. Without it, patients with severe envenoming are at high risk of death or permanent disability,” he stated.
Amani-Hamman further disclosed that the hospital treats an average of six to seven snakebite patients daily during peak farming seasons, with approximately 2,500 new cases recorded annually.
He, however, lamented periodic antivenom shortages due to funding constraints and supply chain challenges.
“Antivenom is expensive to procure and requires proper storage. We depend largely on support from the state and federal governments, as well as intervention agencies. Stock-outs can occur during periods of high demand,” he explained.
He called for stronger government intervention, including subsidised antivenom, improved rural transportation networks, and sustained community education to discourage delays in seeking hospital care.
“Snakebite is treatable. No one should die because they could not access antivenom on time. With proper awareness, timely referral, and sustained support for treatment centres, we can significantly reduce deaths and disabilities,” he said.
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