Pharmacists under the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) have called on the federal government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to provide free antivenom drugs to Nigerians.

The association emphasized that this measure is crucial to preventing the frequent deaths caused by snakebites across the country.

The call comes in the wake of the death of Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, who recently succumbed to a snakebite.

ACPN National Chairman, Pharmacist Ambrose Eze, stated that approximately 2,000 preventable deaths occur annually in Nigeria due to snakebites. He urged the government to make antivenom drugs freely available to citizens and also to support local production of these life-saving medications, noting that every Nigerian life is valuable.

Eze said:
"Snakebite envenoming remains one of the most neglected public health emergencies in Nigeria. While the country records over 20,000 cases annually, roughly 1,700 Nigerians suffer permanent disabilities, including limb amputations, due to tissue necrosis and delayed access to care."

He added that the recent death of Ms. Nwangene at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, highlighted critical gaps in treatment, including stock shortages and referral delays, despite antivenom being administered.

Eze further urged the federal government to include antivenoms under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to help subsidize the average N40,000 treatment cost, which is currently unaffordable for most rural Nigerians.