By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Senate has directed state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to establish coordinated emergency referral and response systems linking public and private hospitals to ensure timely access to life saving medicines, including antivenom.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West) on the need to guarantee the availability of antidotes for emergencies such as snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning and drug overdoses.
The motion was triggered by the death of Abuja based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, who reportedly died after suffering a snakebite and being unable to promptly access antivenom treatment.
Reports indicated she sought care at two hospitals without success due to the absence of antivenom, though the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, said efforts were made to save her life.
Presenting the motion, Adebule said gaps in hospital preparedness were leading to avoidable deaths, noting that delayed access to antidotes during the critical “golden hour” often proves fatal.
She cited the World Health Organisation’s classification of snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease and stressed the need for timely access to safe and effective antivenoms.
Following the debate, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with NAFDAC, to ensure the procurement, quality assurance, proper storage and nationwide availability of effective antidotes, with priority for high risk areas.
Lawmakers also called on state governments to audit public and private hospitals, make antidote stocking mandatory for licensing, strengthen emergency response protocols and ensure regular training for healthcare workers.
A minute of silence was observed in honour of the late Nwangene.
