Globally, Nigeria has 3rd highest incidence of snakebites, 2nd in amputations from same with a Global Ranking at 19

Usually, it takes the visitation of tragedy on the household of the rich, popular, or a public figure for people to start asking questions possibly take actions.

I visited the page of the young lady Ifunanya and wept silently, not just for her loss but for the pains she went through before giving up.

If as the reports claim, she was attacked by Cobras ( a very unusual senerio as an amateur herpetologist), then she stood zero chance especially driving herself as the story claimed.

I won’t go into details on the possibility of two or three Cobras slithering within the confines of human habitation because information on that is quite hazy at the moment.

The main Cobra species prevalent in Nigeria are the Black-necked spitting cobra, the Egyptian cobra and the Mali cobra. They’re all dangerously venomous.

But a cobra bite is not a child’s play, it is one of the most efficient machines in nature. A single strike causes severe neurotoxicity that can lead to respiratory failure and death within 30 minutes to a few hours if untreated.

That’s why countries with high incidences of snake bites ensure clinics and hospitals have antivenoms in stock. I know some of you may not understand the main post but questions should be asked.

If we do not have the highest number of venomous snakes in Africa why do we have an unusually higher burden of snake bites?

If we claim that snake bites are natural occurrences how do humans in Australia cope with almost half the number of venomous snakes globally. How do Mexico with over 400 species of snakes manage to protect their people from such trespasses?

Australia has both highly poisonous and deadly venomous snakes.

We are not on the top 15 list of countries with large snakes population, yet our evenomation burden is so high that we are trying to compete with India, and Southern African countries with far more intrusive reptilian incidences have lesser cases of snake bites yet better access to health emergencies.

The major problem with Nigeria is not just that we don’t have the medical interventions to tackle the over 20,000 snake bites annually, but that that number is grossly unreported. And if not for the intervention of local medicine men using native herbs, the toll would have been more.

Our current national statistics on snake bites are about five years old, and if you know how these figures are gathered you’d agree with me that they’re probably from surveys of 10 years ago.

We already know that the states with the most cases of snakebite in the country are Gombe, Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Nasarawa, Enugu, Kogi, Kebbi, Oyo, Benue and Taraba. Abuja is in the same perimeter with similar climatic conditions of the savannah.

What efforts have we made to focus on the provision of antivenoms across these states.

It is the absence of these basic health facilities that leads to preventable amputations. A country with a very high poverty burden engaging in the slashing of limbs of about 2500 people annually is an assembly line manufacturing of more poverty as those whose limbs are amputated are mostly rendered economically redundant.

What efforts are being made to integrate native medicines especially as regards snake and scorpion bites into the national health emergency system.

On how Africans, particularly Nigerians are losing sight of mocal remedies as cure, Kelechi Deka response was unapologetic. “I am a village boy and I saw, experienced and used native medicines both as deterrent and curative to snake bites. Unfortunately, many of those with the skillset are dying off.”

The available antivenom are mostly in tertiary institutions and a few specialist hospitals. Rural clinic don’t have, and those are the areas with major casualties. People always rely on local herb but the knowledge of the local herb is so limited.

Research Expert on snake bites and venoms, Dan Madu, explains how knowing what venom is needed to treat a particular snake bites is also critical to surviving it venom. “When I read about that singer who got bitten by a snake and the Hospital she was taken to didn’t have anti-venom, the reality is that there are 2 types of anti venom for snakes; polyvalent and monovalent. Polyvalent anti venom neutralises venom from multiple species of snakes, While the monovalent anti venom neutralises just very few, sadly those species aren’t local to Nigeria, so the monovalent anti venom is almost useless here.”

He further adds that, “But then again, less than 10% of Nigerian hospitals stock the polyvalent anti venom. That’s the reason why people resort to trado treatments for it. But you know it’s a game of time if one doesn’t get needed help for it, the venom will eventually take the person’s life. So you can see that Nigeria is a sad case. There’s no point defending Nigeria at all.”

Reacting to the incident of the young Nigerian woman, Ifunanya ‘Nanyah a singer, who died from a cobra bite, Nurudeem Tianmiyu says, “If you even have the venom antidote which cold facility will they be kept. These things are not even on the front burner or both the people and the leaders.”

Anti-venom non-availability is the issue.
Anti venom needs a cold chain for storage, and in a country where there’s lack of electricity in both rural and urban areas, this poses a serious challenge.

Speaking to his experience: Kenneth Ndukwe says “In the rural area where our farm is sited, I meet and greet snakes more than I meet humans. Different kinds and species; varieties of Black Mamba, the most common, varieties of Cobra, viper, varieties of Puff Ader, Green Mamba, pythons, all manner of snakes. This led me to studying snakes; and it’s really an interesting adventure. It’s very unusual for snakes to stealth, ambush and attack heavier organisms especially humans. I have had two very scary encounters with well developed cobras. (Thickness size of street solar pole). I normally don’t bother to chase after snakes except I see them around the house. I just startle them and they run”, adding that he “Also wish to learn more about snake repellents and anti venom practices.”

Why Rural Areas Fair Better

First, the statistics of deaths from snake bites in many rural communities in southern Nigeria is near zero.

I can’t speak about northern Nigeria due to lack of knowledge of how such things are done there.

But down south, the traditional medicine system that has survived centuries of practices have never failed in this area. Never.

Every village or community has that well known herbalist that is so dependable that his or her fame resonates across borders who would simply do the needful 24/7.

Second, many people in the village know the first aid treatment for snake bites that are potent enough to buy time before the victim is taken to the herbalist.

Even in some places,the first aid is good enough to neutralise the effects of the venom without resorting to sucking it out.

Third is DEDICATION, DEDICATION, DEDICATION.

Local herbalists for this kind of cases show a level of dedication that is psychologically reassuring to both victim and family.

In the village, emergency is treated as emergency. Nothing else counts. Nothing else matters. The herbalist may not even ask for the name of the victim or where he is coming from. They’ll simply go down to the business of saving lives.

No gum chewing receptionist with cheap make-up would be pressing phone while asking for the TikTok handle of the victim.

They carry it on their heads like gala while boasting about their know-how. They rarely ask for money or anything before commencing treatment. Even after a few days while treatment is going they would never ask for money.

They will rush inside, rummage through their bags and zoom into the bush returning after some minutes with herbs.

Sometimes,they rarely talk or discuss anything rather they will continue to assure the victim not to worry that everything would be fine.

You can hardly get such dedication in any hospital in this age and time.