FEC APPROVES NATIONAL SNAKEBITE TREATMENT CENTER, N73.9Bn HEALTH PROCUREMENT

HOTJIST NEWS
The federal executive council (FEC) has given the go–ahead to set up the National Snakebite Treatment and Research Centre and approved N73.9 billion for health supplies.This funding is meant to improve access to important medicines throughout the country.
Ali Pate, the coordinating minister for health and social welfare, shared the news on Monday during a briefing for reporters after the weekly FEC meeting, which was led by President Bola Tinubu.
The minister said Nigeria records an estimated 43,000 snakebite incidents annually.
Pate said many snakebite cases result in deaths, disabilities and severe socio-economic consequences, with the north-east, north-west and north-central regions bearing the heaviest burden.
“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 announced that the council approved N6.9 billion for the National Blood Service Agency to procure 10 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered mobile blood donation clinics.
He said the mobile units are intended to improve blood donation, collection and distribution nationwide.
“The procurement seeks to reduce reliance on foreign donors and support eventual local production of TB medicines.
“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.
“These approvals underscore the Tinubu administration’s commitment to strengthening health infrastructure, widening access to essential medicines and promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing.”
