Pharmacists Urge Free Antivenom, Local Production to Reduce Snakebite Deaths

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called on the Federal Government to provide free antivenom nationwide and support local production to tackle the over 2,000 annual preventable deaths from snakebites.

ACPN National Chairman, Mr. Ambrose Eze, made the appeal following the death of Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, describing it as a tragic loss. He stressed that snakebite envenoming remains one of Nigeria’s most neglected public health emergencies and urged the government to declare it a National Health Priority and a Neglected Tropical Disease.

Eze highlighted that Nigeria sees at least 20,000 snakebite cases each year, with around 1,700 victims left permanently disabled. Rural communities, farmers, herders, women, and children are the most affected. He pointed to stock shortages and referral delays in hospitals as major challenges that endanger lives.

“Antivenoms are on the essential medicines list, yet deaths continue to rise,” he said, urging urgent government intervention and improved access to life-saving treatment.

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