Senate Urges Government to Ensure Antivenom Accessibility in Hospitals Following Snakebite Fatality

The Senate has expressed profound concern over the recent death of Abuja singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly recognized as Nanyah, who tragically lost her life following a snakebite incident at her home. Lawmakers have described her demise as both heartbreaking and largely preventable, highlighting critical shortcomings within Nigeria’s emergency healthcare services.

The issue was raised in the Senate through a motion introduced by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), who emphasized that this situation is an urgent national issue regarding the ongoing scarcity of vital antidotes and emergency medications in both public and private health institutions throughout the country.

Senator Adebule noted that Nigeria is facing an escalating number of medical emergencies such as snakebites, scorpion stings, poisonings, and overdoses. She pointed out that these situations necessitate the swift provision of specific antidotes; otherwise, they could lead to avoidable fatalities, as tragically exemplified by the case of the late singer.

After discussions, the Senate determined to urge the Federal Ministry of Health to promptly devise and enforce national guidelines that mandate minimum stock levels for snake antivenoms, essential antidotes, and emergency medications in designated public and private hospitals across the nation.

Senators participating in the debate concurred that Nwangene’s death has unveiled alarming inadequacies in emergency preparedness, indicating that numerous hospitals lack the necessary resources to manage sudden medical emergencies effectively. They expressed concern that many health facilities frequently engage in frantic searches for critical medications post-crisis, a delay that can often be fatal.

Furthermore, the Red Chamber insists that the Federal Ministry of Health collaborates with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to assure the safe acquisition, quality control, proper storage, and widespread accessibility of effective and affordable antivenoms. Lawmakers underscored the importance of prioritizing areas recognized as high- risk for snakebites and related emergencies.

Additionally, the Senate called on state governments, alongside their Ministries of Health and Hospital Management Boards, to conduct immediate audits of both public and private healthcare facilities to ensure compliance with established antidote stocking regulations and enforce adequate emergency preparedness standards.

Lawmakers also stressed the significance of regular training for healthcare personnel, underlining that merely possessing antidotes is insufficient without the presence of qualified staff to administer them quickly during emergencies.

The Senate observed a moment of silence in honour of the deceased Ifunanya Nwangene, offering condolences to her family and friends. Members reiterated the necessity for proactive health policies, asserting that Nigeria must not wait for further tragedies before it tackles the deficiencies in its healthcare delivery system.