Pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) have appealed to the Federal Government to provide free antivenom drugs for citizens.
This appeal follows the death of late Nigerian singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, who reportedly died from a snakebite.
In a statement signed by the National Chairman of ACPN, Ambrose Eze, and made available to journalists on Monday, the association said it was necessary for the government to prioritise local production of antivenom drugs to prevent the over 2,000 preventable deaths recorded annually in the country as a result of snakebites.
The ACPN further urged the Federal Government to approve the full inclusion of antivenoms under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to subsidise the average ₦40,000 treatment cost, which remains prohibitive for the average rural Nigerian.
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Eze noted that despite the existence of national guidelines and the inclusion of antivenoms in the National Essential Medicines List (EML), the persistent rise in fatalities raises urgent concerns about access to quality-assured drugs.
The ACPN National Chairman also stated that, as part of a comprehensive eight-point roadmap, the association had recommended the decentralisation of treatment capacity to rural Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs), as well as the engagement of traditional rulers and healers as partners in early referral systems.
Eze emphasised the need for sustained public education to discourage harmful traditional practices, such as the use of “black stones”, which often cause fatal delays in seeking proper medical care.
He said, “We mourn with the family and stand in solidarity with all Nigerians who have lost loved ones to preventable causes.
“Snakebite envenoming remains one of the most neglected public health emergencies in Nigeria.
While the country records over 20,000 cases annually, approximately 1,700 Nigerians suffer permanent disabilities, including limb amputations, due to tissue necrosis and delayed access to care.
“The death of the late singer, Ms Nwangene, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, served as a catalyst for these demands. While FMC Abuja clarified that antivenom was administered, referral traps and stock-outs in local facilities expose critical gaps.
“The Federal Government should approve the full inclusion of antivenoms under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to subsidise the ₦40,000 average treatment cost, which remains prohibitive for the average rural Nigerian.”
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