Ifunanya Nwangene: Senate asks health ministry to ensure availability of antivenoms in hospitals

The Senate on Tuesday urged health regulatory agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Health, to make the availability of antivenoms and other essential reptile antidotes a mandatory requirement for the licensing, registration, and renewal of accreditation of private hospitals.

The upper chamber also called on the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to collaborate with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure the availability of safe and affordable antivenoms in hospitals across the country.

The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by the Senator representing Lagos West, Idiat Adebule, during plenary.

Mrs Adebule raised the motion in response to the death of Ifunanya Nwangene, a singer, who reportedly died at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, after suffering complications from a snakebite.

Ms Nwangene’s death was officially announced on 31 January by the Amemuso Choir, where she was a soprano singer.

Reports circulating on social media alleged that the hospital was negligent and lacked anti-snake venom when she was brought in for treatment.

The reports triggered widespread reactions online, with many expressing grief while also questioning the circumstances surrounding her death.

However, the management of FMC, Jabi, denied the allegations, stating that the hospital was neither negligent nor lacking anti-snake venom, and explained that Ms Nwangene died from severe neurotoxic complications resulting from the snakebite.

The motion

While presenting the motion, Mrs Adebule expressed concern that victims of snakebites and other poisoning emergencies are often forced to move from one hospital to another in search of antidotes, a situation she described as life-threatening.

She urged the Senate to call on health regulatory agencies to make the stocking of essential antidotes a mandatory condition for licensing and accreditation of private hospitals, while also ensuring adequate budgetary provision and supply mechanisms for public health facilities.

The senator further requested that the Senate direct the Federal Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to carry out nationwide public sensitisation campaigns on the importance of prompt hospital presentation following snakebites, poisoning, and envenomation, as well as the dangers of delayed medical treatment.

She also asked the upper chamber to direct the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to strengthen building regulations under the National Building Code by making Non-Return Valves (NRVs) mandatory in drainage systems to prevent rodents and snakes from entering buildings.

Debate

Most senators spoke in support of the motion.

Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) urged the government to be more proactive in addressing health-related emergencies.

“That shouldn’t happen in our country because we are supposed to have antidotes. We must be proactive as a government. I don’t see why medical centres should not have antidotes,” Mr Karimi said.

Similarly, Ekong Sampson (APC-Akwa Ibom) said the motion showed the need for proactive healthcare policies.

“We don’t have to wait until there’s a fatality through snakebites. This is a lesson for us to be proactive; we must take healthcare very seriously. It is tragic that the deceased went the way she died. The fatalities that are caused by snakebites can be very painful.

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“We must protect the health of our people. My heart bleeds for the family of the deceased who has done well for this country. It is one loss too many, but this is avoidable,” he added.

Responding, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described Ms Nwangene as a promising Nigerian whose death was a great loss to the country and her family.

Mr Akpabio put the motion to a voice vote, which was overwhelmingly adopted by the senators.

He thereafter directed lawmakers to observe a minute silence in honour of Ms Nwangene.