Abuja singer’s death: Senate demands mandatory antivenom stocking in hospitals

Late Nanyah

The Senate on Tuesday urged state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to establish coordinated emergency referral and response systems linking public and private hospitals, following growing concerns over avoidable deaths arising from poorly handled medical emergencies.

Lawmakers said the proposed system would ensure rapid access to life-saving medicines, particularly during emergencies such as snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning and drug overdoses, where delays often prove fatal.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), titled “Urgent Need for the Federal and State Governments to ensure adequate stocking, availability, and access to life-saving antidotes and emergency medicines in Public and Private Hospitals across Nigeria.”

The motion was prompted by public outrage over the death of a rising Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, who reportedly died after suffering a snakebite and being unable to access antivenom treatment promptly. Punch