Accessibility Analysis to Anti-venom Centre in Langtang North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

Timnan Tyem Nimzing, Yetunde Adedoyin Arigbede, Muhammad Ismail

Abstract


Geographic Information System (GIS) tools provide critical insights into spatial variations in snakebite incidence and disease burden by evaluating accessibility to healthcare facilities and predicting infection risks. This study aimed to map accessibility to anti-venom centers in Langtang North Local Government Area (LGA) using location-allocation analysis (Network Analyst tool) and proximity analysis (Near tool) in ArcGIS 10.1. The results revealed significant disparities in travel distances to anti-venom centers across wards. Zamko ward had the highest accessibility, with an average distance of 724.002m, followed by Mban ward (3,111.562m). In contrast, Jat and Warok wards exhibited the poorest accessibility, with distances of 30,448.95m and 33,067.399m, respectively. Notably, most residents in Langtang North LGA traveled beyond the 4km standard set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency medical access. These findings underscore the urgent need for additional anti-venom centers or hospitals within underserved wards to improve equitable access to life-saving treatment. Strategic placement of healthcare facilities, informed by GIS-based spatial analysis, could significantly reduce snakebite mortality and morbidity in the region.


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