After singer Ifunanya Nwangene’s death from snakebite, Senate orders hospitals to stock antidotes and boost awareness
The Nigerian Senate has called on federal and state governments to ensure that hospitals nationwide are equipped with life-saving antidotes such as snake antivenom, following the tragic death of rising singer Ifunanya Nwangene from a venomous snakebite in Abuja.
Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), who sponsored the motion, highlighted that delayed access to emergency treatments often results in preventable deaths from snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, and overdoses.
She stressed that adequate stocking of essential antidotes in both public and private hospitals should be mandatory for licensing and accreditation.
The Senate also recommended improved supply chains for public hospitals, stricter regulations for private facilities, and nationwide sensitisation campaigns to educate Nigerians on seeking prompt medical care during emergencies.
Additionally, lawmakers urged the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to enforce building safety rules, including the mandatory installation of Non-Return Valves (NRVs) in buildings to prevent rodents and snakes from entering homes.
This directive comes as a response to the gaps in Nigeria’s emergency preparedness exposed by Ifunanya’s death, a situation Adebule described as a reminder of the government’s constitutional duty to safeguard citizens’ health and welfare.
