Anti-Snake Venom Crisis Deepens in Nigeria as Costs Soar to N250,000 Per Vial
The Medical Director of the Snakebite Hospital and Research Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State, Dr. Nicholas Amani, has raised alarm over the severe scarcity and prohibitive cost of anti-snake venom in Nigeria. This critical medical resource has become increasingly difficult to access, creating a major public health challenge that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations.
Global Scarcity and Local Realities
Dr. Amani emphasized during an interview that anti-snake venom is not just scarce in Nigeria but represents a global shortage. "The truth is that anti-snake venom is a scarce commodity all around the world," he stated. "The reason is that snake bite mainly affects the less privileged, farmers, and rural dwellers — people who do not really have a voice."
The medical director noted that this scarcity persists despite increased attention to snakebite as a significant health issue. "Everywhere we attend conferences and international meetings, it is the same issue, scarcity, scarcity," he lamented.
Specialized Hospitals Lack Essential Supplies
Even facilities specifically designed to treat snakebite victims are struggling with inadequate supplies. "I want to make it very clear that even in specialized hospitals, we do not actually have anti-snake venom in our facilities currently," Dr. Amani revealed.
He explained that while government efforts are underway to address this crisis, the process remains in development. "Efforts are being made by the government to make provision because this has now resurfaced as a major health challenge, but the process is still in the pipeline," he said.
Patients Forced to Source from Private Vendors
The situation has become so dire that patients must often obtain the life-saving medication from private sources. "Even in Kaltungo, what you find is that it is pharmacists and business people in town who are supplying the anti-venom," Dr. Amani described. "Patients have to go and buy from them. So the issue of scarcity is real."
Exorbitant Costs Burden Vulnerable Populations
The financial burden of treatment has reached alarming levels. "Currently, a vial of anti-snake venom costs about N250,000," Dr. Amani disclosed. "Some patients require two or three vials."
This creates an impossible situation for many victims. "The people who come with snake bites are very poor," he explained. "They sell their farmlands and belongings just to buy one vial. Imagine when two or three vials are needed."
The crisis highlights significant challenges in Nigeria's healthcare system, particularly affecting rural communities and agricultural workers who face the highest risk of snakebites. Without accessible and affordable treatment options, many lives remain at risk from what should be a treatable medical emergency.
