The Senate calls on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to immediately develop and enforce national guidelines that mandate minimum stock levels of life-saving antidotes and emergency medicines in hospitals across Nigeria.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the resolution follows the consideration of a motion sponsored by Senator Adebule Idiat Oluranti, representing Lagos West Senatorial District. The motion highlights the urgent need for both federal and state governments to ensure the availability, accessibility, and proper stocking of essential antidotes in designated public and private health facilities nationwide.
While presenting the motion, Senator Idiat notes that Nigeria continues to record a rising number of medical emergencies, including snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, drug overdoses, and other forms of envenomation. She warns that many of these cases result in preventable deaths due to the absence of critical antidotes in hospitals.
Mediaplusng.com also reports that the Senate expresses deep concern over the reported death of Miss Ifunanya Nwangene, who allegedly dies after a snakebite in Abuja. Lawmakers describe the incident as tragic and avoidable, stating that it exposes serious gaps in emergency preparedness, response systems, and the availability of anti-venom and other emergency medicines in healthcare facilities.
In honour of the late Ifunanya Nwangene, the Senate observes a minute of silence during plenary. Senators say her death underscores the human cost of weak health systems and the urgent need for reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As part of its resolutions, the Senate urges health regulatory agencies to make the stocking of essential antidotes a compulsory requirement for the licensing, registration, and renewal of accreditation of private hospitals. Lawmakers insist that no health facility should operate without meeting basic emergency preparedness standards.
The Senate also calls for improved budgetary allocations to public hospitals to ensure steady supply chains for anti-venoms and other emergency drugs. According to lawmakers, adequate funding and transparent procurement processes are critical to saving lives, especially in rural and high-risk areas where snakebites are more common.
In addition, the upper chamber directs the Federal Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency to launch nationwide public awareness campaigns. The campaigns are expected to educate Nigerians on the importance of seeking immediate medical attention after snakebites, poisoning, or similar emergencies, and to warn against delays and harmful self-treatment practices.
Lawmakers stress that public education is as important as hospital readiness, noting that many victims lose valuable time before reaching proper medical care. They say timely hospital presentation can significantly reduce fatalities if the right antidotes are available.
The Senate assures Nigerians that it will continue to push for policies that strengthen emergency healthcare delivery and protect lives. Senators say the new guidelines, when enforced, will improve hospital preparedness, restore public confidence in the health system, and prevent avoidable deaths across the country.
