The death of an Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, due to snakebite has spurred the Senate into urging government to make available snake anti-venom and other emergency medicines, in public and private hospitals nationwide.
OrijoReporter recalls that Nwangene was bitten by snake at her residence.
Her futile attempts to get adequate medical attention at both public and private hospitals sealed her fate due to non availability of anti-venom which contributed to her untimely death at the age of 26 on 31st January 2026 at the Federal Medical Centre.
Consequently, the circumstances surrounding her death sparked public outrage.
The Senate on Tuesday urged both states and federal governments to ensure private and public hospitals were not without life-saving antidotes, including snake anti-venom and other emergency medicines.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West).
In the motion, Adebule highlighted the growing incidence of medical emergencies such as snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, drug overdoses and other forms of envenomation that require urgent intervention.
The lawmaker noted that the World Health Organisation classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease and stresses the need for timely access to safe and effective antivenoms, particularly in countries like Nigeria, where such cases are prevalent.
Adopting the motion, the Senate urged health regulatory bodies to make the stocking of essential antidotes mandatory for the licensing and accreditation of private hospitals, while calling for improved funding and supply systems for public hospitals.
