The Benue State House of Assembly has officially passed a bill guaranteeing free medical treatment for snakebite victims in government hospitals across the state.
The legislation was passed on Friday during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Berger Alfred Emberga, after successfully scaling its third reading. The passage of the bill follows a recent public hearing where health workers and community leaders urged the government to make snakebite care accessible and structured.
Dr. Matthew Damkor, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, championed the legislation stressing that snakebites remain a serious but largely neglected public health crisis in Benue’s rural communities. According to Damkor, the law will end the financial barriers that stop victims from getting quick, life-saving medical attention.
Speaker Emberga also praised the bill as a timely intervention, emphasizing that farmers are at the greatest risk since they constantly come into contact with snakes while working in their fields.
For years, the high cost of anti-snake venom has been a heavy burden for Benue residents, particularly rural farmers. This financial strain often forces victims to delay hospital visits or seek unproven traditional remedies, which can lead to fatal outcomes. While former Governor Samuel Ortom previously made personal provisions for victims to receive subsidized treatment at Bishop Murray Hospital in Makurdi, this new bill steps in to create a permanent, state-backed solution.
The bill now heads to Governor Hyacinth Alia for his final assent.
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