The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has assured residents that hospitals and health facilities under its control are adequately stocked with anti-snake venom (ASV) drugs to manage snakebite emergencies.
The assurance was given in Abuja on Tuesday by the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, in a statement issued following the death of popular TikTok singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, also known as Nanya, who reportedly died from neurotoxic complications after a snakebite.
Dr. Fasawe expressed condolences to the family of the deceased, describing the loss of a young and promising life as 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,” she said.
She explained that decisions on antivenom stocking were guided by collaboration with veterinary experts to identify the most common snake species and venom strains within the FCT.
According to her, both polyvalent and multivalent antivenoms are centrally stored at FCTA-owned Abuja Central Medical Stores and managed directly by the Secretariat to ensure quality control, cold-chain integrity and constant availability.
Fasawe, however, stressed that early treatment is critical, noting that while antivenom is most effective when administered promptly, it does not always guarantee recovery, especially after the onset of neurotoxic symptoms.
This, she said, underscores the importance of rapid evacuation and access to medical care.
“To reduce response times, the FCTA has strengthened secondary prevention through expanded road networks and the procurement and deployment of 12 fully equipped ambulances for emergency response,” she said.
She added that FCT hospitals provide standard care for snakebite cases, including antivenom administration, limb immobilisation without tourniquets, monitoring for adverse reactions and supportive treatment. Advanced care such as intensive care admission, airway management, coagulation monitoring and blood transfusion services, she said, are also available across FCT hospitals.
On quality assurance, the mandate secretary warned that all public and private healthcare facilities must strictly adhere to approved clinical protocols, adding that monitoring and enforcement would be intensified, with sanctions for negligence.
She disclosed that residents can access emergency services through the FCT Emergency Medical System and Ambulance Services via 09157892931 and 09157892932.
Dr. Fasawe also urged residents to adopt preventive measures, including wearing protective clothing when working on farms or in tall grasses, avoiding dark areas, using flashlights at night, clearing debris around homes, sealing entry points and refraining from handling snakes.
In the event of a snakebite, she advised residents to remain calm, immobilise the affected limb below heart level, remove constrictive items, gently clean the wound and proceed immediately to a hospital with antivenom.
She cautioned against harmful practices such as cutting or sucking the wound, applying tourniquets, ice or herbal remedies.
The FCTA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening emergency response systems, enforcing healthcare standards and safeguarding the lives of residents in the Federal Capital Territory.