At least 50 per cent of health facilities in Nigeria lack the capacity to treat snakebite envenoming, a new report has revealed.
The report, released by the global Strike Out Snakebite initiative to mark World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2026, celebrated every January 30, noted that weak health systems, poor infrastructure and shortages of life-saving antivenom continue to drive preventable deaths and long-term disabilities, particularly in high-burden countries such as Nigeria.
The report was based on a survey of 904 frontline healthcare workers across Nigeria, Brazil, India, Indonesia and Kenya — five of the countries with the highest burden of snakebite envenoming.
The report held that 50 per cent of health workers said their facilities lacked the full capacity to manage snakebite cases, while 99 per cent reported difficulties administering antivenom, the only treatment recognised by the World Health Organisation as essential for snakebite care.
In Nigeria, the situation was described as particularly troubling, with 98 per cent of healthcare workers surveyed reporting challenges in administering antivenom.
“Nigeria is home to 29 species of snakes, nearly 41 per cent of which are venomous, yet many victims still struggle to access timely medical care,” the report read.
Healthcare workers identified urgent priorities, including improving access to care, enhancing antivenom quality, strengthening regulation, expanding training, and scaling up community education to reduce risky behaviours.
The report highlighted “delays in patients arriving at health facilities (57 per cent), poor infrastructure and inadequate equipment (56 per cent), and lack of training and clinical guidelines (42 per cent) as key factors contributing to avoidable deaths and disabilities.”
The report follows the death of Abuja-based music talent Ifunanya Nwangene, who reportedly visited two hospitals unable to administer antivenom before she passed away.
The report further revealed that 35 per cent of healthcare workers face daily antivenom shortages, while over 77 per cent reported life-threatening delays in patients seeking treatment, often due to reliance on traditional remedies.
According to the report, 44 per cent of healthcare workers said avoidable delays had resulted in amputations or major surgeries, outcomes that often plunge affected families into poverty.
Snakebite envenoming was described as a crisis of inequality, disproportionately affecting rural communities, children, and agricultural workers living far from well-equipped health facilities.
“Snakebite envenoming kills roughly one person every five minutes worldwide, yet remains severely underreported and underfunded despite being preventable and treatable,” the report stated.
Speaking on the findings, co-chair of the Global Snakebite Taskforce and Chancellor of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Elhadj As Sy, said the research was urgent, as snakebite envenoming causes up to 138,000 deaths every year, one person every five minutes, and leaves a further 400,000 with permanent disabilities.
He added that it is baffling that despite snakebite envenoming being one of the deadliest Neglected Tropical Diseases, it remains largely invisible to global decision-makers, donors and funders.
“No one should be dying from snakebite envenoming,” he said, calling for urgent action to ensure that a preventable and treatable condition no longer claims lives across Nigeria and other vulnerable regions.
Commenting on the findings, Elhadj As Sy said frontline health workers are left to confront a deadly disease within fragile and under-resourced systems.
“Too often, conversations on global health overlook those who shoulder the greatest burden — frontline healthcare workers. This report shines a light on the severe challenges they face. Many solutions exist, but political will and bold commitments from governments, partners and investors are needed to turn the tide on this preventable yet devastating disease.”
“Victims often face long journeys to care, limited infrastructure and scarce, costly antivenom, barriers that transform a treatable condition into a life-threatening emergency,” the report added.
It also highlighted simple preventive measures, such as wearing protective footwear, using mosquito nets, carrying torches at night, and avoiding snake habitats, which could significantly reduce the risk, especially in rural areas.
Elhadj urged government action to tackle the crisis.
“As Co-Chair of the GST, my mission is simple: to bring snakebite out of the shadows and demand the attention, action, and resources from the international community. The solutions exist. The deaths are preventable. Frontline healthcare workers have spoken. I invite you to listen. Stand with them,” he said.
Executive Secretary at African Leaders Malaria Alliance, Joy Phumaphi, said: “Snakebite envenoming continues to take the lives of vulnerable people despite being preventable. On World NTD Day, ALMA reaffirms our commitment to strengthen prevention and control through advocacy and country-led solutions. Unite. Act. Eliminate NTDs.”
The report also urged governments, philanthropists, multilateral agencies and industry to increase investment in research, expand affordable, high-quality antivenom production, modernise health infrastructure and integrate snakebite prevention and treatment into national health plans.
SOS warned that snakebite envenoming currently receives only a fraction of the funding required, despite causing up to 138,000 deaths and 400,000 permanent disabilities globally every year.
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