The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of a National Snakebite Treatment and Research Centre alongside a N73.9 billion health intervention package aimed at improving access to essential medicines, strengthening disease control, and enhancing healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, disclosed this on Monday while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Pate said the new National Snakebite Treatment and Research Centre is expected to address the growing public health challenge posed by snakebite incidents, which affect an estimated 43,000 Nigerians every year.
According to him, snakebites result in numerous deaths, permanent disabilities and significant socio-economic losses, particularly in the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions.
“The new centre will provide specialised treatment, undertake research on snakebite prevention and management, ensure sustainable access to quality antivenom, and collaborate with international partners,” the minister said.
Beyond the snakebite initiative, the council also approved N6.9 billion for the National Blood Service Agency to procure 10 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered mobile blood donation clinics to improve blood collection, storage and distribution across the country.
Pate said the mobile facilities would strengthen voluntary blood donation and expand access to safe blood, especially in underserved communities.
In a move to improve maternal and reproductive healthcare, FEC also approved N5 billion for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to procure reproductive health and family-planning commodities.
The intervention is expected to enhance maternal health services and expand access to voluntary family-planning programmes nationwide.
The council further approved N62 billion for the procurement of tuberculosis (TB) commodities to strengthen Nigeria’s response to one of the world’s highest TB burdens.
According to the minister, the procurement is also designed to reduce the country’s dependence on imported TB medicines while supporting efforts toward local production in the future.
The approvals form part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to strengthen the healthcare system, improve access to life-saving medical commodities and tackle priority public health challenges across the country.
