Victims of snake bite in Nigeria are faced with very slim chances of survival as the prices of Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) serum have gone up drastically.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that cost of treatment in some centres in Plateau has risen drastically with many victims struggling to foot hospital bills.

A vial of ASV which used to cost between N23,000 and N25,000, currently costs more than N45,000, almost double its former price, according to NAN.

Nyam Azi, a medical officer with the JUTH Comprehensive Medical Centre, Langtang, Plateau State, attributed the rise in ASV cost to rising dollar rates.

“A vial of ASV costs at least N45,000; it used to be around N23,000 to N25,000. The current price is very high considering that it is peasants that are mostly affected.

“There are peak periods for snake bites – the heat season, planting and harvest time. We are entering the peak of harvest season, so the numbers are going up.

“We record about 50 cases per month; sometimes we get 20 cases per week. This month alone, we recorded about 40 and the month is not over yet,” he said.

The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, recently revealed that an average of 20,000 cases of snake bites are recorded in Nigeria every year, adding that about 2,000 of the victims die annually, while 1,700 lose their legs or arms.

(NAN)