Hospital runs out of anti-snakebite vaccines

The Presbyterian Hospital at Donkorkrom which serves the Kwahu Afram Plains South and Kwahu Afram Plains North districts has run out of anti-snakebite vaccines.

This is critical at this time when the people in the area are engaged in land preparation when most of the snake bites occur.

The Eastern Regional Medical Stores from where the hospital receives its supply has also run out of stock and the Hospital authorities had to purchase the vaccines from the open market at exorbitant prices to treat snake bites.

The pharmacist at the Hospital, Mr George Afful, revealed this to the Ghana News Agency Media Auditing and Tracking of Development Projects Team in an interview at Donkorkrom.

Mr Afful said most of the farmers in the area work without protective clothing such as Wellington boots and gloves to avoid being bitten by snakes and that about four of the vaccines would be needed to treat a patient bitten by snake.

The Accounts Manager of the Hospital, Mr Wilberforce Osei Owusu, appealed for the provision of a new ambulance because the only ambulance is old and cannot go to remote areas.