Senate Calls for Mandatory Antivenom in Hospitals Following Singer’s Snakebite Death

The Nigerian Senate has called on federal and state governments to ensure all hospitals stock essential antidotes, particularly antivenom, following the recent death of singer Ifunanya Nwangene from a snakebite.

The resolution was passed on Tuesday after a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), titled “Urgent Need for the Federal and State Governments to ensure adequate stocking, availability, and access to life-saving antidotes and emergency medicines.”

The motion was prompted by public outcry over the death of Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, who died after reportedly being turned away from two hospitals that lacked antivenom. She was eventually taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, where medical efforts to save her life were unsuccessful.

Senator Adebule lamented the “disturbing rise” in emergency cases requiring immediate intervention, noting that systemic gaps in hospital preparedness were costing lives. She emphasized that snakebite envenoming is classified by the World Health Organisation as a neglected tropical disease, and timely access to antivenom is critical.

Following deliberations, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure the procurement, quality assurance, and nationwide availability of safe, effective, and affordable antivenoms.

The upper chamber also called on state governments to audit both public and private hospitals for compliance with antidote-stocking standards and mandated that stocking essential antidotes be a requirement for hospital licensing and accreditation.

Additionally, lawmakers advocated for a coordinated emergency referral system between hospitals to prevent delays during the critical “golden hour” after envenomation or poisoning.

In a related preventative measure, the Senate asked the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to mandate Non-Return Valves in building drainage systems to prevent snakes and rodents from entering homes.

The Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of the late Ifunanya Nwangene.