Snakebite Crisis: Pharmacists Call For Free Anti-Venom To Stop 2,000 Annual Deaths
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has raised the alarm over Nigeria’s worsening snakebite crisis, warning that the country’s “fragile” response is responsible for an estimated 2,000 deaths every year.
In a strong call to action, the pharmacists urged the Federal Government to immediately provide free antivenom nationwide and invest in local production to curb preventable deaths, particularly in rural communities.
The warning follows the recent death of Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, an incident the ACPN described as a tragic failure of the nation’s health system.
Speaking on the issue, ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Eze, disclosed that about 20,000 Nigerians are bitten by snakes annually, with at least 1,700 survivors left with permanent disabilities, including limb amputations.
According to the association, Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported antivenom is both costly and unsustainable. Pharm. Eze noted that the country spends nearly $12 million every year on imported antivenom—an amount he said could instead be used to establish a local production plant that would secure long-term supply and reduce costs.
“The same $12 million spent annually on imports can build a functional local manufacturing facility,” the ACPN stated, adding that many rural farmers and herders—the most affected groups—cannot afford current treatment costs.
The pharmacists also decried the high cost of antivenom, which can reach ₦40,000 per dose, often forcing victims to endure dangerous delays or abandon treatment altogether.
To address the crisis, the ACPN is demanding that snakebite treatment be fully integrated into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme, ensuring universal access regardless of income or location.
In addition, the association called for the decentralisation of snakebite care to primary healthcare centres and rural clinics, warning that delayed referrals to distant hospitals are contributing significantly to avoidable deaths.
The ACPN stressed that without urgent policy intervention, Nigeria will continue to lose thousands of productive citizens yearly to a health emergency that is both predictable and preventable.
