Ifunanya Nwagene: Senate seeks life-saving antidotes, emergency medicines in hospitals for snakebites
Senate Urges Improved Emergency Healthcare Following Snake Bite Death
The Nigerian Senate has called on all levels of government to urgently enhance emergency healthcare delivery, particularly in areas prone to snake bites. This follows the tragic death of 26-year-old singer Ifunanya Nwangene, known as Nanya, who died from a snake bite in Abuja last Saturday. Reports indicate she sought urgent medical attention at two hospitals but was reportedly left untreated due to a lack of anti-venom.
During a plenary session, Senator Idiat Adebule (APC Lagos West) brought attention to this issue through a motion highlighting the urgency of the situation. She urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to develop national guidelines that would ensure hospitals maintain minimum stocks of essential antidotes and emergency medicines.
The Senate also mandated health regulatory authorities to make the stocking of vital antidotes a prerequisite for the licensing and accreditation of private hospitals.
Senator Adebule emphasized the need for both federal and state governments to improve access to life-saving antidotes, citing a rising trend of medical emergencies in Nigeria, including snakebites and other forms of envenomation.
Senator Sunday Karimi (APC Kogi West) supported the motion, underscoring the importance of addressing high-incidence areas for snake bites. “In many parts of the country, snakebites are common, and our hospitals are not adequately prepared. This resolution is about saving lives,” he stated.
Senator Anthony Ani (APC Ebonyi South) urged that compliance with minimum medical stock requirements be tied to hospital licensing. “Hospitals unable to meet emergency care standards should not be allowed to operate,” he remarked.
Senator Titus Zam (APC Benue North-West) added that rural communities bear the brunt of inadequate healthcare, stating, “Ensuring access to anti-venom is a matter of social justice.”
The Senate’s resolutions also included a call for health regulatory authorities to secure adequate budgetary provisions and efficient supply chains for public hospitals. Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency were directed to initiate public awareness campaigns about the importance of timely medical treatment for snake bites and other emergencies.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed condolences to Nwangene’s family, calling the incident “deeply saddening and unacceptable.” He added, “This loss should never have happened. As a nation, we must do better to protect the lives of our citizens.”
