In response to the tragic and preventable death of a young Nigerian woman from a snakebite in Abuja, the Senate has directed all public and private hospitals across the country to mandatorily stock essential antidotes, including antivenoms, as well as other critical emergency medicines.
The resolution was passed on Tuesday after senators observed a minute of silence for Ifunanya Nwangene, whose death was attributed to the unavailability of antivenom at nearby hospitals, causing fatal treatment delays.
Sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), the motion highlighted a widespread problem: many facilities either fail to stock vital antidotes or maintain insufficient supplies, leading to dangerous delays, excessive patient referrals, and unnecessary loss of life.
The Senate emphasized that snakebite envenoming remains a major public health issue in Nigeria, classified by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease. Similar concerns apply to other emergencies such as scorpion stings, poisoning, and drug overdoses, where prompt access to specific antidotes is life-saving.
Among the key directives:
The Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC must establish and enforce national guidelines for minimum stock levels of essential antidotes in hospitals.
Priority procurement, quality control, storage, and distribution of safe and affordable antivenoms, especially in high-risk areas.
Mandatory stocking of antidotes as a licensing and accreditation requirement for private hospitals.
Adequate budget allocation and supply systems for public facilities.
State governments and the FCTA to audit compliance and improve emergency referral coordination.
Public awareness campaigns on the dangers of delayed treatment.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the incident as a painful and avoidable loss, stressing that no Nigerian should die due to gaps in emergency healthcare preparedness.
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