Antivenom Rises to #250,000: Nigeria Records 43,000 Snakebites, 1,900 Deaths
Health experts have urged the Federal Government to prioritise antivenom production and availability across hospitals nationwide as Nigeria records 43,000 snakebite cases annually.
The senior health professionals stated that limited access to the life-saving treatment continues to fuel snakebite deaths in the country.
The experts noted that aside from the scarcity of antivenom, snakebite victims pay between N180,000 and N250,000 per dose, an amount equivalent to about four months’ total income for Nigerians earning the N70,000 minimum wage.
The experts who are researchers on Neglected Tropical Diseases explained that weak health systems, poor infrastructure, and shortages of antivenom continue to drive preventable deaths and long-term disabilities, as 50 per cent of health facilities in the country lack the capacity to treat snakebite envenoming.
The experts called on the Federal Government to subsidise antivenom costs, import cheaper alternatives while developing local production capacity, and make the treatment freely available at primary healthcare centres nationwide.
The Toxinological Society of Nigeria recently disclosed that Nigeria records approximately 43,000 snakebite cases every year, with nearly 1,900 deaths.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its 2nd Annual General Meeting on Snakebite Management and Research Interventions, held at Gombe State University, the Society described the situation as a neglected public health emergency.
Following Nwangene’s unfortunate demise, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria called on the Federal Government to make antivenom free nationwide and advocated local antivenom manufacturing to address over 2,000 preventable snakebite-related deaths recorded annually.
A report by the global Strike Out Snakebite initiative showed that at least 50 per cent of health facilities in Nigeria lack the capacity to treat snakebite envenoming.
