The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the establishment of a National Snakebite Treatment and Research Centre alongside health sector procurements worth N73.9 billion to improve access to essential medicines and strengthen healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that the approvals were announced on Monday by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Pate said the creation of the specialised snakebite centre was in response to the country’s significant burden of snakebite incidents, estimated at about 43,000 cases annually.
According to him, snakebites continue to claim lives, cause permanent disabilities and impose severe socio-economic hardships, 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,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that FEC approved N6.9 billion for the National Blood Service Agency to procure 10 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered mobile blood donation clinics aimed at improving blood donation, collection and distribution nationwide.
In addition, the council approved N62 billion for the procurement of tuberculosis (TB) commodities to strengthen Nigeria’s response to one of the world’s highest TB burdens.
“FEC also authorised N62 billion for tuberculosis (TB) commodities to boost response to one of the world’s highest TB burdens,” he said.
“The procurement seeks to reduce reliance on foreign donors and support eventual local production of TB medicines.”
Pate further announced that FEC approved N5 billion for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to procure reproductive health and family planning commodities. He said the intervention is expected to improve maternal healthcare services and expand access to voluntary family planning across the country.
“The sum of N5 billion was also approved for the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to purchase reproductive health and family-planning commodities to improve maternal health services and expand voluntary family-planning access across the country.”
The minister said the approvals reflect the Tinubu administration’s resolve to strengthen the nation’s health system, expand access to life-saving medicines and support the growth of local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
“These approvals underscore the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening health infrastructure, widening access to essential medicines and promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing.”
