West Gonja Hospital receives anti snake venom
One person has died out of a total of 50 snake bite cases so far recorded this year at the West Gonja Hospital in Damongo, the capital of the Savannah Region.
The latest snake bite incident reported to the hospital involved a Primary Five pupil of the Tailorpe Primary School, Tahiru Asha, who was bitten by a snake last Saturday when she was picking shea nuts.
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Health workers say snake bite incidents always increase at this time of the season, which is for farming and shea nut picking. Last year, there were 60 recorded cases of snake bites.
Donation
The Medical Superintendent of the West Gonja Hospital, Dr Saadre Anlaagmen, made this known when a delegation of executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Damongo Constituency, on behalf of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, donated 100 vials of anti-snake venom to the hospital last Wednesday.
The Constituency Secretary of the NPP in Damongo, Mr Karim Kusubari, and the Constituency Communication Director, Mr Iddrisu Lamin, accompanied the Aide to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Manuel Quaye, to present the drug to the hospital.
The donation was in response to an appeal launched by Nkilgi FM in Bole for the hospital to be stocked with anti-snake vernon and for funds to be raised to purchase the drug for Little Asha who needs GH¢1,200 for her treatment.
Mr Jinapor is also footing the medical bills of Little Asha, who is currently on admission at the West Gonja Hospital.
Appeal for more snake vaccines
Dr Anlaagmen, who received the drugs, commended the Deputy Chief of Staff for the gesture, especially at this time of the year when the hospital was receiving more snake bite cases.
He said even though the hospital was supplied anti-snake venom by the government, more was required to take care of the rising snake bite cases.
Dr Anlaagmen said currently patients were buying drugs from the drug stores at the cost of GH¢300 a vial.
He appealed to Mr Jinapor and other philanthropists to help the hospital with anti-snake venom since the cost of the drug was a problem for patients.
Donation
According to Mr Kusubari, the Deputy Chief of Staff had given firm instructions that the hospital should administer the drug to patients for free.
He said Mr Jinapor's attention was drawn to the lack of anti-snake venom at the hospital following an appeal for funds launched by Bole-based Nkilgi FM last Wednesday in support of little Asha who was bitten by a snake and whose parents were unable to raise GH¢1,200 to buy the anti-snake vaccine.
