Lawmakers Demand Mandatory Antivenom Availability in Hospitals

Lawmakers Demand Mandatory Antivenom Availability in Hospitals
Lawmakers linked delayed treatment to preventable deaths and health complications.
Authorities were asked to enforce regulations and improve public awareness.

The Senate on Tuesday called on the Federal and state governments to urgently ensure the adequate stocking, availability and accessibility of lifesaving antidotes, including snake antivenom and other emergency medicines, in public and private hospitals across Nigeria.

The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule, representing Lagos West Senatorial District.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Leading the debate, Adebule raised concerns over the rising cases of medical emergencies that require immediate intervention, including snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, drug overdoses and other forms of envenomation.

She warned that delays in administering specific antidotes often result in avoidable deaths and irreversible health complications.

The senator expressed concern over the reported death of Miss Ifunanya Nwangene, who allegedly died after being bitten by a snake in Abuja. She described the incident as a clear indication of gaps in emergency preparedness and the poor availability of critical antidotes within the country’s healthcare system.

Adebule noted that the World Health Organisation classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease, stressing the need for timely access to safe and effective antivenoms, particularly in countries like Nigeria where such incidents remain common.

She also cited constitutional provisions that mandate the government to safeguard the welfare of citizens. According to her, Section 17(3)(d) of the 1999 Constitution obliges the state to provide adequate medical and health facilities, while Section 14(2)(b) states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

The motion noted that many public and private hospitals either do not stock essential antidotes such as antivenoms and anti toxins or keep them in insufficient quantities. Lawmakers said this often leads to dangerous treatment delays, unnecessary referrals and preventable loss of lives.

The Senate lamented that victims are frequently forced to move between hospitals during the critical golden hour in search of antidotes, a situation that significantly increases mortality and morbidity rates.

In adopting the motion, the Senate urged 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 called for adequate budgetary provision and efficient supply mechanisms to ensure public hospitals are properly equipped with emergency medicines.

The Senate further directed the Federal Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency to embark on nationwide public sensitisation campaigns on the importance of prompt hospital presentation following snakebites, poisoning and other envenomation incidents.

Lawmakers warned against delayed treatment and reliance on unorthodox remedies.

In addition, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to strengthen the National Building Code by making the installation of Non Return Valves mandatory in buildings to prevent rodents and snakes from entering homes through drainage systems.

The Senate said the measures were necessary to prevent avoidable deaths and strengthen emergency healthcare response across the country.