Senate Directs Nationwide Supply of Antivenom in Hospitals

The Senate has urged the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and state governments to ensure the availability of antivenom and other emergency antidotes in both public and private hospitals across Nigeria.

The call followed concerns raised over recent cases of preventable deaths linked to snakebites, including the death of Abuja based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, which lawmakers said highlighted gaps in emergency healthcare services.

Senators expressed worry that the lack of essential emergency medicines, particularly in rural and high risk communities, continues to result in avoidable deaths from snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, and drug overdoses. They noted that many hospitals do not stock antivenom, leading to treatment delays and referrals that often worsen patients’ conditions.

The Senate adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule Lagos West, calling on the health ministry to develop and enforce national guidelines on minimum stock levels of critical antidotes in hospitals. Lawmakers also recommended that antivenom availability be made a condition for hospital licensing, registration, and accreditation renewal.

In addition, the Senate urged regular inspections of public and private health facilities to ensure compliance with emergency care standards and called for increased public awareness on the need for immediate medical attention following snakebites.

The resolution has been welcomed by health professionals and advocacy groups, who are also advocating free access to antivenom and expanded local production, as authorities are expected to outline implementation measures in the coming weeks.