Abdulrazaq Habib, a Professor of Infection and Tropical Diseases Epidemiology at Bayero University in Kano, has urged the Federal Government to address the impacts of pesticides and snakebites in Nigeria.

Speaking at a workshop in Abuja, Habib highlighted Nigeria’s high incidence of snakebite envenoming and the significant burden of agricultural poisoning in Africa.

He emphasized the importance of integrating and strengthening the management of poisons to enhance the effectiveness of poison centers and improve overall understanding of these issues.

The Director of the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention at the University of Edinburgh, Prof Michael Eddleston, aims to prevent deaths from pesticide poisoning through collaborative efforts to address long-term consequences of pesticide exposure.

David Williams from the World Health Organization underscored the ongoing challenges posed by snakebites in rural communities, noting the high mortality rate and long-term disabilities caused by these incidents.

He emphasized the need for improved data collection to inform policy decisions at the governmental level.

“And of course, there are big problems with shortages of safe and effective treatments for antivenoms.

“There are problems with inadequate training for health workers and communities not knowing the right ways to prevent and avoid snakebite.”

Also speaking, a Consultant of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Dr Usman Abdulrahman, mentioned they will work hard to reduce the impact of pesticide poisoning and snakebite complications in Nigeria.

He stated, “We are looking at how these big mysteries that have come, especially on the side of anti-venom, how they can be able to help Nigeria to supply anti-venom”.

The expert stated they will further look at how anti-snake venom could be accessed, especially in rural areas.

He mentioned, “We are looking at a very big grant from the University of Edinburgh in this area and at the same time, the issue of snake bite, treatment and prevention”.

Abdulrahman mentioned plans to create comprehensive poison centers in various parts of Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.

Additionally, Dr. Adedayo Peters, the Director of Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Federal Ministry of Health, reported over 5,000 instances of snakebites received by the ministry.

He identified three prevalent venomous snakes in Nigeria as the spitting cobra, carpet viper, and black cobra.

” They are the types you have in Nigeria. These poisonous snakes are more common in some parts of the country where you have snakes everywhere.

”We have treatment centres where people bitten by snakes, usually go to and they are given treatments,” he mentioned.