Mai Kaltungo Urges Farmers’ Protection, Better Roads to Curb Snake Bite Deaths
From Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The Mai Kaltungo, Engineer Saleh Muhammad, has appealed to farmers in Gombe State to adopt protective measures during the farming season and called on government to improve rural road networks to reduce deaths from snake bites.
Speaking at the 2nd Scientific Conference of the Toxinological Society of Nigeria (TSN), held in Gombe, the traditional ruler noted that most snake bite cases occur when farmers are working in the fields.
He stressed that protective gear such as boots and gloves could significantly reduce exposure, while better roads would ensure victims reach treatment centres on time.
“Every year, our farmers suffer the brunt of this menace. Protecting themselves with simple gear and having quick access to medical centres can make the difference between life and death,” the Mai Kaltungo said.
He commended medical experts for their continued research but stressed that community-level prevention and infrastructural support remain vital in tackling the crisis.
Statistics revealed that between January and July 2025, the Snake Bite Treatment and Research Centre in Kaltungo treated 1,829 patients, with 23 deaths recorded. About 75 percent of the victims were men, while the carpet viper was identified as the deadliest species.
The Chairman of the TSN Board of Trustees, Dr. Ibrahim Jalo Daudu, Tafarkin Gombe called for urgent local production of anti-snake venom to reduce cost and improve access, describing Gombe as “the heart of the challenge.”
Similarly, the Chairman of the National Emergency Committee on Snake Bite, Dr. Isma’il Jibrin, attributed the high prevalence in Gombe to environmental conditions and lamented the rising cost of imported anti-venom, which Nigeria is permitted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to produce only for local consumption.
Representing Governor Inuwa Yahaya, Deputy Governor Dr. Manasseh Jatau highlighted the government’s investment in 114 primary healthcare centres across all wards of the state, which earned Gombe international recognition.
