Ortom pledges continued support for snakebite victims in Benue

By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has pledged to continue providing financial assistance to snakebite victims, while calling on the state government to strengthen access to emergency treatment for affected residents.

Ortom also accused the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia of discontinuing an arrangement his government had with selected hospitals to provide free treatment for snakebite victims in the state.

The former governor’s media aide, Terver Akase, made the allegation on Saturday after encountering a woman suffering from a severe snakebite at Ortom’s residence.

According to Akase, the victim, who was reportedly bitten by a snake at Tse-Poor in Ugondo community, Makurdi Local Government Area, was bleeding and in severe pain when she arrived at the residence seeking assistance.

Akase said he immediately contacted Ortom, who directed that the woman be taken to hospital for treatment and assured that he would settle the medical bill.

He expressed concern over what he described as the discontinuation of the previous government’s arrangement for the treatment of snakebite victims, saying many affected residents lacked the resources to pay for emergency medical care.

Akase said Ortom would continue supporting victims as part of his humanitarian interventions, noting that the former governor had provided similar assistance before, during and after his tenure.

“Government should intervene promptly in cases involving snakebite victims. There is nothing wrong with government doing that to save lives,” Akase said.

“Chief Ortom will not relent in assisting snakebite victims. He has been doing so before he became governor, while in office and outside office.”

He urged the Benue State Government to consider restoring public support for snakebite treatment or partnering with individuals and organisations to ensure victims receive timely medical attention.

The allegation that the Alia administration terminated the previous treatment arrangement could not be independently verified, and no response from the state government was provided at the time of filing this report.