Ortom Pays N3.285m Medical Bills for 3 Snakebite Victims in Benue

By Attah Ede, Makurdi

Former Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, has spent N3.285 million on the treatment of three snakebite victims in the state, ensuring their recovery and discharge from hospital without outstanding medical bills.

The beneficiaries, identified as Terungwa Ayaka of Mbayer Yandev, Mluwan Gbilin and Movinga Igbauhe, both from Gbajimba in Guma Local Government Area, were discharged after receiving anti-snake venom and other necessary medical attention.

According to details of the intervention, Ayaka received nine doses of anti-snake venom and other medical treatment at a cost of N2.1 million, while Gbilin received four doses and other medical care amounting to N900,000.

Igbauhe, the third beneficiary, received one dose of anti-snake venom alongside other medical treatment at a cost of N285,000.

The total expenditure of N3.285 million was fully sponsored by Ortom, relieving the victims and their families of the financial burden associated with emergency treatment.

A statement by the former governor’s media aide, Paul Zege, said the intervention reflected Ortom’s continued support for vulnerable residents of the state, particularly those requiring urgent medical attention but unable to afford the cost of treatment.

Zege recalled that Ortom began sponsoring free treatment for snakebite victims in 2000, long before he became governor of Benue State.

The programme was subsequently institutionalised during his administration. In 2022, the then Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Joseph Ngbea, reportedly presented a memo seeking approval for the state government to take over the funding of snakebite treatment.

The request was approved, and the state government sustained the programme until 2023, when Hyacinth Alia succeeded Ortom as governor.

However, the statement alleged that the programme was discontinued under the Alia administration, during the tenure of the then Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Yanmar Ortese.

The alleged discontinuation has raised concerns over the continued access of vulnerable residents, particularly those in rural communities, to affordable and potentially life-saving treatment for snakebites.

Snakebites remain a serious medical emergency, with the high cost and availability of anti-snake venom posing significant challenges for families in rural areas who may struggle to meet the expenses of immediate treatment.

The beneficiaries and their families expressed gratitude to the former governor, describing his intervention as timely and crucial to their access to life-saving medical care.

They said the financial assistance enabled the victims to receive the necessary treatment at a time when the cost of hospital care threatened their ability to continue treatment.

The families also expressed relief that their loved ones had recovered sufficiently to be discharged, with all medical bills settled.

Zege added that Ortom’s latest intervention was part of his longstanding support for snakebite victims facing financial difficulties.

Beyond the immediate relief provided to the three beneficiaries, the development has renewed attention to the need for accessible emergency healthcare and sustainable funding for snakebite treatment, especially in underserved communities.

The intervention also highlights the importance of ensuring that residents who suffer snakebites can obtain prompt medical attention without being prevented by the cost of anti-snake venom and related hospital services.