The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria has urged the federal government to make anti-venom free nationwide.

The association also called for the local manufacture of antivenom to address the over 2,000 preventable snakebite-related deaths recorded annually.

ACPN made the appeal in a statement by its national chairman, Ambrose Eze, following the death of Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene.

Mr Eze expressed condolences to the family, describing the death as a tragic and painful loss. He warned that snakebite envenoming remained one of Nigeria’s most neglected public health emergencies requiring urgent national attention.

He urged the federal government to declare snakebite envenoming a National Health Priority and classify it as a Neglected Tropical Disease. According to him, Nigeria records no fewer than 20,000 cases annually, with about 1,700 people left permanently disabled.

Mr Eze said rural dwellers, farmers, herders, women and children bore the greatest burden. He also said that the death of Nwangene at FMC Jabi renewed concerns over delays in accessing lifesaving antivenom.

Mr Eze said stock-outs and what he termed the “referral trap” exposed critical gaps in the snakebite response system. He insisted that any delay caused by cost or lack of trained personnel could prove fatal for snakebite victims.

He observed that antivenoms remained on the essential medicines list, yet snakebite-related deaths continued to rise.

ACPN called for a one-off federal investment of about $12 million to establish a local antivenom production facility. The association urged the government to include antivenoms in national health insurance coverage to reduce the N40,000 treatment cost. ACPN also condemned what it described as “administrative interference” disrupting hospital Drug Revolving Funds.

Mr Eze said Nigeria spent nearly the same amount annually on importing antivenoms. He said protecting these funds was crucial to ending the persistent “stock-out syndrome” in public health facilities.

“These systemic failures are echoed in the 2026 Global Strike Out Snakebite report, which found that 98 per cent of Nigerian healthcare workers face extreme challenges in administering treatment,” he explained.

As part of an eight-point roadmap, the association recommended strengthening rural primary health centres for early response. It also urged collaboration with traditional rulers and healers to improve the timely referral of snakebite victims.

Mr Eze further warned against harmful traditional practices, including the use of “black stones”, describing them as dangerous treatment delays. He maintained that with political will, strategic investment, and coordinated action, the cycle of preventable deaths and disabilities could be broken.

(NAN)