The federal executive council (FEC) has approved the establishment of the National Snakebite Treatment and Research Centre and N73.9 billion for health procurements aimed at strengthening access to essential medicines across the country.

Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, announced the approvals on Monday while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting presided over 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.

“FEC also authorised N62 billion for tuberculosis (TB) commodities to boost response to one of the world’s highest TB burdens,” he added.

“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.”