The Nigerian Senate has ordered the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure the procurement, quality assurance, and nationwide distribution of safe, effective, and affordable antivenoms in public and private hospitals. This move aims to address the shortage of antivenoms, particularly in high-risk regions, and reduce preventable deaths from snakebites and other medical emergencies. The Senate also urged state governments to conduct audits of hospitals to ensure compliance with antidote-stocking standards and establish coordinated emergency referral systems.
The call for action follows the tragic death of singer Ifunanya Nwangene, who died after being unable to access antivenom treatment in Abuja. The Senate emphasized the need for timely access to antivenoms, citing the World Health Organization’s classification of snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease.
