By Al-Kadriyar Abdullahi
The Federal Government (FG) has approved the upgrade of the Snakebite Treatment Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State, into the National Snakebite Research and Medical Centre, in a major step towards strengthening Nigeria’s response to snakebite emergencies.
The approval was granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at its meeting in Abuja, chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Announcing the decision, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the new centre will provide specialised clinical care, drive research, train healthcare professionals and improve nationwide access to life-saving antivenom.
According to the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the upgrade is designed to tackle Nigeria’s growing snakebite burden, with the country recording more than 43,000 snakebite cases annually. Many of the cases result in death, permanent disability and severe socio-economic hardship, particularly among farmers, herders, hunters, women and children in rural communities.
The agency noted that many snakebite-related deaths occur because victims are unable to access effective antivenom quickly.
Beyond providing advanced treatment, the centre will serve as Nigeria’s leading institution for snakebite research. It will investigate Nigerian snake venoms, identify medically important snake species across different regions, develop evidence-based treatment protocols and strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent and manage snakebite cases.
The upgraded facility will also function as the national referral centre for severe snakebite cases while expanding training for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.
Government says the centre will play a critical role in ensuring a more reliable supply of quality antivenom, addressing longstanding challenges of inconsistent availability across the country.
Expected to become Nigeria’s first specialised National Snakebite Research and Medical Centre, the facility will focus on high-burden regions in the North-East, North-West and North-Central, while collaborating with international institutions to advance snakebite research and treatment.
The Federal Government says the initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system and improve access to life-saving medical services nationwide.
