What victims of snakebite should do – FCTA

The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, has issued a step-by-step advisory on what residents must do once they are bitten by snake.

In a statement released Monday, Dr. Fasawe urged residents to remain calm and adopt primary prevention measures.

These, she said, include wearing protective clothing in farms or around tall grass, using flashlights at night, clearing debris around homes, sealing entry points, and never attempting to handle snakes.

In the event of a bite, the Secretariat urged victims to stay calm to keep the heart rate down, immobilize the affected limb below heart level, remove constrictive items like rings or watches, gently clean the wound with water, and proceed immediately to a hospital equipped with antivenom.

Dr. Fasawe warned against harmful traditional practices like “Cutting or sucking the wound, applying tourniquets, ice, or herbal remedies must be avoided. Timely presentation remains the single most critical factor for survival.”

The Mandate Secretary stressed that while antivenom is effective, its efficacy decreases once neurotoxic symptoms manifest, making rapid evacuation vital.

She reiterated that all healthcare facilities, public and private, must adhere to approved clinical protocols.

“Monitoring and enforcement will be intensified. Facilities found negligent will face sanctions,” she warned.

She assured the public that both polyvalent and multivalent antivenoms are fully stocked and maintained under strict cold-chain quality control at the Abuja Central Medical Stores.

This advisory follows the death of singer and social media influencer, Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene, which sparked public outrage and allegations of medical negligence.

While the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, dismissed claims that they lacked antivenom—stating that the patient arrived too late with advanced respiratory distress—Dr. Fasawe noted that the loss must serve as a turning point for emergency preparedness.

“The loss of a promising young life is deeply painful. 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 encouraged residents to contact the FCT Emergency Medical System and Ambulance Services on 090157892931 or 090157892932 in the event of an emergency.

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