The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate has pledged government’s readiness to support the establishment of more poisoning treatment centres in Nigeria.
The minister made the pledge during the closing session of the two-day workshop on integrating and strengthening emergency care for poisoned and envenomed patients in West Africa in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was convened by Prof. Abdulrazaq Habib of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Epidemiology Department, Bayero University, Kano.
The workshop attracted representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Centre for Pesticides Suicide Prevention, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (UK).
The minister said that poison from animals could cause chronic kidney damage if not treated properly, and reiterated government’s willingness to support treatment centres.
Mr David Williams, a Scientist of Anti-venoms, WHO, said the organisation will support Nigeria with some anti-venoms.
He added that “WHO will donate some quantity of anti-venom to help rural dwellers, voiceless people in the snake bitten environments.”
Prof. Michael Eddleston, the Director, Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention, University of Edinburgh, UK, said establishing poisoning treatment centres will help Nigeria.
He added that the centres, when established, would also assist in controlling effect of pesticides and insecticides poisoning in the country.
Dr Usman Abdulrahman, a Consultant, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, said “the management of poisoning is critical. Government must hasten the establishment of these centres.” (NAN)
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