Snake bites: Senate calls for mandatory stocking of life-saving antidotes in Nigerian hospitals

The Senate has urged the Federal and State Governments to urgently ensure the adequate stocking, availability, and accessibility of life-saving antidotes and emergency medicines in both public and private hospitals across Nigeria, following rising cases of medical emergencies linked to snakebites, poisoning, and other forms of envenomation.

The call followed the consideration of a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), which highlighted growing concerns over preventable deaths resulting from the absence or shortage of critical antidotes in health facilities nationwide.

In its resolution, the Senate noted that Nigeria continues to record increasing incidents of snakebites, scorpion stings, drug overdoses and other poisoning-related emergencies, all of which require the immediate administration of specific antidotes to prevent irreversible health complications or death.

Lawmakers expressed grave concern over the reported death of Ifunanya Nwangene, an artiste who allegedly died after a snakebite in Abuja, describing the incident as tragic and avoidable.

The Senate said the case exposed serious gaps in emergency preparedness and the availability of antivenoms and other antidotes in both public and private hospitals.

The Senate also recalled that the World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease and emphasises the importance of timely access to safe and effective antivenoms, particularly in countries like Nigeria, where such incidents remain prevalent.

Read also: Snake anti-venom available in all Abuja public hospitals — FCTA 

Citing constitutional provisions, the lawmakers stressed that Section 17(3)(d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) mandates the State to provide suitable and adequate medical and health facilities for all persons, while Section 14(2)(b) affirms that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. According to the Senate, these obligations extend to the regulation, supervision and standard-setting for both public and private hospitals.

The Senate expressed concern that many hospitals across the country do not stock essential life-saving antidotes such as antivenoms and anti-toxins, or maintain them in insufficient quantities. This, it said, often leads to dangerous delays in treatment, unnecessary referrals and avoidable loss of lives.

Lawmakers further observed that victims of snakebites and poisoning emergencies are frequently forced to move from one hospital to another in search of antidotes during the critical “golden hour,” a situation that significantly increases mortality and morbidity rates.

As part of its resolutions, 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.

It also urged the government to ensure adequate budgetary provisions and effective supply mechanisms for public hospitals.

The Senate also directed the Federal Ministry of Information, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to embark on nationwide public sensitisation campaigns on the importance of prompt hospital presentation following snakebites, poisoning and envenomation, while warning against delays in seeking medical treatment.

In addition, the upper chamber directed the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to strengthen building regulations under the National Building Code by making the installation of Non-Return Valves (NRVs) mandatory in buildings.

The valves, lawmakers said, would allow waste to exit while preventing rodents and snakes from entering buildings through drainage systems.

The Senate said the combined measures would significantly reduce preventable deaths and strengthen Nigeria’s emergency healthcare response system.