Anti-venom in Abuja must stop being a scavenger hunt

antisnake venom

The death of Ifunanya Nwangene has triggered grief — and a familiar argument: was anti-venom available, and was it given in time? Some reports describe delays and difficulty accessing anti-venom, while Federal Medical Centre, Abuja has publicly disputed claims of non-availability and says polyvalent anti-snake venom was administered, attributing the death to severe neurotoxic complications. (Punch Newspapers)

But here is the truth Abuja must face — even if every single detail of this case is later clarified: a capital city should never leave lifesaving emergency medicines to chance, rumours, or last-minute begging. Not in a place as busy, as growing, and as nationally symbolic as Abuja.

Anti-venom is not “optional” — it’s officially essential

Nigeria’s own Essential Medicines List includes anti-snake venom (polyvalent) — meaning it is not some exotic drug that only “big hospitals” should have. It is a basic, recognized, lifesaving product that should be planned for, funded, and stocked. (health.gov.ng)

And globally, World Health Organization is blunt about what saves lives: access to safe, effective antivenoms, backed by strong health systems. WHO’s strategy targets a 50% reduction in snakebite deaths and disability by 2030, and it explicitly prioritizes production, supply, and distribution of antivenoms. (World Health Organization)

So the question for the Federal Capital Territory is not “should we stock anti-venom?”It’s: how do we guarantee it is always within reach — fast — in public facilities and emergency points across the FCT?

The missing piece is not only “more hospitals.” It’s a system.

A city can have ambulances, buildings, and staff — and still fail patients if the supply chain is weak.

The good news is: the FCT already has governance structures designed to coordinate health services — from the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat to the FCT Hospitals Management Board. (fcthhss.abj.gov.ng)And the territory is actively strengthening emergency response capacity — including newly commissioned ambulances under Nyesom Wike’s administration. (Businessday NG)

Now the challenge is simple: match transport capacity with medicine availability — so an ambulance ride doesn’t end in “we don’t have it.”

What an FCT “Anti-venom Guarantee” should look like

1) Name and certify “Snakebite-Ready” public facilities (and publish the list)

Not every clinic needs full capability. But every area council should have clearly designated public facilities that are:

• stocked with appropriate anti-venom,

• trained to use it safely,

• equipped for rapid airway/breathing support and complications.

Then publish the list where the public can actually find it.

2) Create an “FCT Anti-venom Bank” + rotate stock before expiry

This is the difference between “we bought some once” and “it’s always available.”

Set up a small central stockpile at 1–2 high-capacity hubs, then rotate vials out to district/general hospitals before they expire. Facilities that use stock get replenished fast.

3) Set minimum stock levels for every public hospital — and enforce them

Vague instructions don’t work. Facilities need:

• minimum stock (“par”) levels based on case risk and catchment population,

• re-order triggers (not “when we remember”),

• a monthly “stockout” report that leadership actually reads.

4) Build a live inventory dashboard (so doctors don’t waste time calling around)

When minutes matter, calling five hospitals is unacceptable.

The FCT should run a simple digital inventory view showing:

• which facility has anti-venom,

• how many vials,

• expiry dates,

• and where the next nearest stock is.

WHO’s broader supply guidance emphasizes the basics of inventory systems and stock cards — paper or electronic — because you can’t manage what you can’t see. (WHO Extranet)

5) Procure quality-assured anti-venom — and treat counterfeits as a public safety threat

Anti-venom is not a “buy anything cheap” product. Quality matters.

Procurement should be anchored to NAFDAC registration and quality requirements, and purchases should be transparent enough to withstand public scrutiny. (NAFDAC)

6) Pay for it like an emergency service, not a random pharmacy item

Stocking fails when facilities fear the cost burden.

The FCT needs a financing approach that:

• ring-fences anti-venom funding,

• uses framework contracts (multiple suppliers),

• prevents facilities from avoiding stock because “no one will reimburse us.”

7) Train teams to use anti-venom fast and safely — and standardize protocols

Availability without confidence leads to dangerous delays.

Every “snakebite-ready” facility should run regular drills:

• triage and recognition of envenoming,

• correct dosing protocols,

• management of reactions,

• referral triggers and ICU escalation pathways.

WHO’s strategy places health-system strengthening — including safe treatment delivery — at the centre of reducing deaths and disability. (World Health Organization)

8) Link ambulances to medicine: one call should activate both

If the FCT is expanding emergency transport, then dispatch must also know:

• where anti-venom is stocked right now,

• where the nearest “snakebite-ready” bed is,

• and which facility can manage complications.

This is how you turn ambulances into outcomes — not just optics.

What AbujaCity.com is calling for

We are not interested in “blame culture.” We are interested in never repeating preventable loss.

So here’s our proposal to the FCT health leadership:

Launch a 90-day “Anti-venom Availability Sprint” that publishes:

• the designated snakebite-ready facilities,

• a public stockout tracker (even if basic),

• response time targets (“anti-venom accessible within 60–90 minutes anywhere in the FCT”),

• and a quarterly procurement/stock rotation update.

Because if anti-venom is essential on paper, then it must be essential in practice — in every area council, at any hour, for any resident.

Abuja can do this. The system already exists. It simply needs to be wired for urgency.