Senate Calls for Urgent Stocking of Anti-Venoms to Prevent Snakebite Deaths

photo credit: The Kenyan wall street

The Senate on Tuesday called on the Federal and state governments to urgently ensure the adequate stocking, availability and accessibility of lifesaving antidotes, including snake antivenoms and other emergency medicines, in public and private hospitals nationwide.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), who raised concerns over the rising incidence of medical emergencies requiring immediate intervention.

Leading the debate, Adebule drew attention to the increasing cases of snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, drug overdoses and other forms of envenomation across the country, warning that delays in administering specific antidotes often result in avoidable deaths and long-term health complications.

The senator expressed particular concern over the reported death of Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, who allegedly died after suffering a snakebite. She described the incident as a tragic example of gaps in emergency preparedness and the poor availability of critical antidotes within Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Adebule noted that the World Health Organisation classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease, underscoring the need for timely access to safe and effective antivenoms, especially in countries like Nigeria where such incidents remain common.

She also referenced constitutional provisions mandating the government to protect citizens’ welfare, citing Section 17(3)(d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires the state to provide adequate medical and health facilities, and Section 14(2)(b), which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

According to the motion, many public and private hospitals either do not stock essential antidotes such as antivenoms and anti-toxins or maintain them in insufficient quantities. This often leads to dangerous treatment delays, unnecessary referrals and preventable deaths.

Lawmakers lamented that victims are frequently forced to move between hospitals during the critical “golden hour” in search of antidotes, significantly increasing mortality and morbidity rates.
In adopting the motion, the Senate urged health regulatory agencies to make the availability of essential antidotes a mandatory requirement for the licensing, registration and renewal of accreditation of private hospitals. It also called for adequate budgetary provisions and efficient supply systems to ensure public hospitals are properly equipped.

The Senate further directed the Federal Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency to intensify nationwide public sensitisation campaigns on the importance of prompt hospital presentation following snakebites, poisoning and other envenomation incidents, warning against delayed treatment and reliance on unorthodox remedies.

In addition, lawmakers urged the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to strengthen the National Building Code by mandating the installation of non-return valves in buildings to prevent rodents and snakes from entering homes through drainage systems.

The Senate said the measures were aimed at preventing avoidable deaths and strengthening emergency healthcare response across the country.