Senate urges hospitals to stock antivenom after singer’s death
The Senate has called for urgent improvements in emergency medical response across Nigeria. Lawmakers highlighted the tragic death of Abuja singer Ifunanya Nwangene from a snakebite, which sparked public outrage over hospital preparedness. The Senate’s resolution seeks to ensure that both public and private hospitals are equipped with life-saving antidotes like antivenom. The move aims to prevent avoidable deaths caused by delays in emergency treatment.
What we know
- The Senate urged state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to establish coordinated emergency referral and response systems for hospitals.
- The motion was sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule and followed the death of Ifunanya Nwangene, who could not access antivenom after a snakebite.
- Reports indicate Nwangene was denied prompt treatment at two hospitals due to lack of antivenom before being taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.
- Lawmakers called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to ensure nationwide availability and quality of antivenoms and other critical antidotes.
- The Senate also recommended audits of hospitals for compliance, mandatory antidote stocking for licensing, and improved building codes to prevent snake entry into homes.
