Mirian Gom 
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved four major health interventions valued at approximately ₦93.9 billion to strengthen disease control, emergency medical services and healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after Monday’s FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
Among the approvals is the upgrade of the Kaltungo Snakebite Treatment Centre into the National Snakebite Research and Medical Centre.
Pate said the centre would provide specialised treatment, research, training and sustainable access to quality antivenom.
“Snakebite remains a significant yet neglected public health challenge, especially among farmers, herders, hunters, women and children,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria records more than 43,000 snakebite cases annually, resulting in deaths, disabilities and significant socio-economic losses.
“This will be the first specialised snakebite research and treatment centre in Nigeria and the sub-region,” he added.
The minister also announced FEC’s approval for the procurement of 10 compressed natural gas-powered blood donation mobile clinics for the National Blood Service Agency.
The project, valued at about ₦6.9 billion, is expected to improve blood collection, storage and distribution nationwide.
“We require about 1.8 million units of blood annually but currently collect only about 25 to 30 per cent,” Pate said.
He noted that the mobile clinics would support maternal health services, trauma care, surgical procedures and cancer treatment across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
FEC further approved ₦62 billion for the procurement of tuberculosis commodities as Nigeria intensifies efforts to tackle one of the world’s highest TB burdens.
“Nigeria is among countries with the highest tuberculosis burden. Government is now taking responsibility for procuring these commodities,” he said.
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