Group urges Nigeria to establish functional poison centres amid rising chemical, snakebite fatalities
By Faridat Salifu
Environmental and public health group Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria) has raised alarm over Nigeria’s lack of functional poison centres, describing the absence of such facilities as a major public health failure.
In a statement released recently, SRADeV regretted that despite the increasing incidence of chemical poisoning, accidental toxic exposures, and the recent fatal snakebite in Abuja, Nigeria has only one unrecognised poison centre, located at the Raw Materials and Research Development Council in the capital which, it said, is highly inaccessible to the general public and under-resourced.
“Having only one ‘unrecognised’ poison centre, located far from the National Hospital Abuja or other medical facilities, is unacceptable and far below global public health standards,” said Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of SRADeV Nigeria. “Quick intervention often determines survival in poisoning cases, and Nigeria is failing its citizens in this regard.”
SRADeV warned that the lack of decentralised poison centres across the country increases fatality risks in chemical exposures, pesticide poisoning, drug overdoses, snake envenomation, and industrial accidents, expressing dismay that in emergencies, delayed referrals and lack of expert guidance can turn survivable incidents into deaths.
The recent snakebite in an urban area of Abuja underscores the urgency of the crisis. According to SRADeV, poor environmental management, overgrown surroundings, and inadequate sanitation have increased human exposure to venomous animals even in cities.
Victor Fabunmi, Senior Public Health Officer at SRADeV, noted: “If snake envenomation can result in death in urban settings, rural and peri-urban communities with limited emergency care are at even greater risk.”
The organisation also stressed the need for public education on poisoning prevention and emergency response, including clear guidance on where to seek help and toll-free contact numbers.
SRADeV Nigeria is calling on federal and state governments to:
• Establish at least one functional poison centre in every state.
• Integrate real-time poison emergency response systems into primary healthcare and emergency services.
• Invest in public awareness campaigns on poisoning prevention and response.
• Improve urban and rural environmental management, including fumigation and sanitation nationwide.
“This is a long-standing gap that requires urgent political will, investment, and accountability, as citizens’ lives depend on it,” Dr. Adogame said.
