Dr. Durfa Calls for Local Antivenom Production in Nigeria

Dr. Nandul Durfa, a former Chief Medical Director of Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital and current Managing Director of the EchiTAb Study Group Nigeria, reported that a shortage of antivenom in Nigeria has resulted in four deaths from snakebite envenomation within a week at a hospital. Speaking at a National Training Workshop on Snakebite Handling, Treatment and Management organized by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation in partnership with Chevron Nigeria Limited at the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos, Durfa emphasized the urgent need for reliable supplies of effective antivenom.

He noted that Nigeria has the capacity and government approvals for local antivenom production, but bureaucratic delays have hindered progress. Durfa referenced past approvals from former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006 and efforts during former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to secure funding for production, which ultimately did not materialize.

He called for stronger collaboration between medical practitioners and traditional healers to improve treatment outcomes.