After snakebite fatalities, Senate pushes for mandatory antivenom nationwide

The Senate on Tuesday urged the federal and state governments to urgently ensure the adequate stocking, availability and accessibility of life-saving antidotes, including snake anti-venom and other emergency medicines, in both public and private hospitals nationwide.

The call followed the consideration and adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), which drew attention to the increasing incidence of medical emergencies such as snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, drug overdoses and other forms of envenomation requiring immediate medical intervention.

Leading the debate, Adebule warned that delays in administering appropriate antidotes often result in avoidable deaths and irreversible health complications, stressing that timely access to emergency medicines remains a major gap in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

She expressed particular concern over the reported death of Miss Ifunanya Nwangene, who allegedly died following a snakebite in Abuja, describing the incident as a tragic illustration of poor emergency preparedness and the lack of readily available antidotes in many hospitals.

The lawmaker noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease, underscoring the need for prompt access to safe and effective antivenoms, especially in countries like Nigeria where snakebite cases are prevalent.

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

She lamented that many public and private hospitals either do not stock essential antidotes such as antivenoms and anti-toxins or maintain them in insufficient quantities, a situation that often leads to dangerous delays, unnecessary referrals and preventable loss of lives.

According to the motion, victims of snakebites and poisoning emergencies are frequently forced to move between hospitals during the critical “golden hour” in search of antidotes, significantly increasing mortality and morbidity rates.

Adopting the motion, the Senate called on health regulatory authorities to make the stocking of essential antidotes a mandatory requirement for the licensing, registration and renewal of accreditation of private hospitals, while urging improved budgetary allocation and efficient supply systems for public health facilities.

The upper chamber also directed the Federal Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to embark on nationwide public sensitisation campaigns on the need for prompt hospital presentation following snakebites, poisoning and other envenomation incidents, warning against the dangers of delayed treatment.

In addition, lawmakers urged the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to strengthen the National Building Code by making the installation of Non-Return Valves (NRVs) compulsory in buildings to prevent rodents and snakes from entering homes through drainage systems.

The Senate said the measures were necessary to curb avoidable deaths and strengthen Nigeria’s emergency healthcare response.

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