The Nigerian Senate has called for a comprehensive overhaul of national emergency healthcare protocols following a motion moved by Senator Oluranti Idiat Adebule regarding the rising fatalities from reptile encounters and snakebites.
The motion was prompted by the tragic and preventable death of Ifunanya Nwagene, who recently succumbed to a snakebite. Senator Idiat highlighted a critical gap in the nation’s healthcare system: the scarcity of anti-venom and the lack of rapid-response infrastructure for poisonous animal encounters in both rural and urban areas.
Key Highlights of the Motion
Urgent Policy Reform: The Senate urged the Federal Government to establish robust policies specifically targeting healthcare emergencies related to poisonous animals.
Infrastructure & Supply: The motion emphasized the need for a mandatory supply of anti-venom in all primary and tertiary healthcare facilities.
Public Safety: Senator Idiat underscored that the loss of Ifunanya Nwagene serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by citizens due to inadequate emergency medical logistics.
The motion received strong backing from Senator Sunday Karimi and Senator Titus Zam, who both lamented the frequency of such incidents.
