By Kingsley Mamore, GNA
Chinderi (O/R), Sept 24, GNA – The Jerry John Yenabi Foundation has said its free anti-snake venom intervention has helped save the lives of 99 people in the Krachi Murumuru District of the Oti Region.
The Foundation said the intervention was introduced in response to the persistent threat of snakebite-related deaths in the predominantly farming district, where residents frequently encounter snakes while working on farms and travelling along bush paths.
According to the Foundation, limited access to anti-snake venom had previously contributed to delays in treatment, resulting in avoidable deaths and complications among snakebite victims.
It has since supplied anti-snake venom to selected health facilities across the district to ensure that victims receive prompt treatment without having to bear the cost of the medication.
Mr Jerry John Yenabi, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the initiative was aimed at reducing preventable deaths associated with snakebites, particularly among farming communities.
He said many residents had lost their lives in the past because the required anti-snake venom was either unavailable or could not be secured in time.
Mr Yenabi said no person should lose his or her life to a snakebite when effective treatment was available and urged residents to report suspected snakebite cases immediately to the nearest health facility.
He explained that early reporting and prompt administration of anti-snake venom were critical to improving the chances of recovery and preventing serious complications.
Mr Kumado John Jnr, a nurse at St. Luke Catholic Hospital, Chinderi, also advised residents against delaying treatment or relying on unverified traditional remedies after snakebites.
He said victims should be taken to health facilities as quickly as possible, particularly now that anti-snake venoms have been made available within the district.
Mr Kumado said timely access to appropriate medical care could significantly improve treatment outcomes and reduce the risk of fatalities.
The intervention has been welcomed by health workers and residents as an important response to a longstanding public health challenge in the farming communities.
The Foundation said it would continue to support access to anti-snake venom and public education to promote early reporting and appropriate treatment of snakebite cases.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/BenjaminMensah