KEY POINTS

• FCTA says snake anti-venom is available in all FCT-owned hospitals and health centres.
• Stocking is guided by local snake species, with centrally managed, quality-controlled supplies.
• Residents urged to take preventive measures and seek immediate hospital care after snakebites.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that snake anti-venom is fully stocked and accessible in all FCT-owned hospitals and public health centres.

The confirmation was made in a statement on Monday by Adedolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environmental Secretariat, following public concern triggered by the reported death of Ifunanya Nwangene from a snakebite.

Reports had alleged that Nwangene could not access anti-venom when she was taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi. However, the hospital dismissed the claim, stating that its medical team attended to the patient promptly and provided appropriate care

Stocking Guided by Snake Species in the FCT

Fasawe explained that different types of anti-snake venom are stocked across FCTA-owned hospitals, with procurement guided by consultations with veterinary doctors who help identify the most common snake species and venom strains in the territory.

She said both polyvalent and multivalent antivenoms are maintained, centrally stored at the Abuja Central Medical Stores, and managed directly by the secretariat to ensure proper quality control, cold-chain preservation, and constant availability.

“The loss of a promising young life is deeply painful and distressing. I share in the family’s grief and reaffirm that such medically preventable deaths must be taken seriously, with strengthened measures to prevent recurrence,” Fasawe said.

The mandate secretary described snakebites as a largely preventable public health emergency, noting that venomous species such as cobras, vipers, and puff adders are found in both urban and peri-urban parts of the FCT.

She explained that snakes often inhabit farms, grasslands, rainforests, and semi-arid areas, and may hide near homes in search of food or shelter, increasing the risk of human-snake encounters.

Fasawe stressed that all snakebites should be treated as venomous until proven otherwise.