(VOICE OF NAIJA)-Before dawn breaks over the fields, many families in rural Nigeria are already awake.
By 3 a.m., their small households stir to life, lanterns lit, hoes gathered, and food packed into worn containers.
The early start is not by choice but by necessity.
They must walk nearly an hour to their farmland, hoping to beat the scorching sun and maximise the short window of cool morning hours for cultivation.
For families like these, farming is survival. But the darkness they step into each morning carries hidden danger.
Tall grasses, muddy paths, and poorly lit surroundings make encounters with snakes a constant risk, one that many rural households quietly live with every planting season.
In these communities, a snakebite is more than a medical emergency; it can mean financial ruin, permanent disability, or death.
While high-profile cases occasionally capture national attention, thousands of rural victims suffer in silence, far from hospitals, antivenom supplies, and public visibility.
READ ALSO:FMC Abuja Speaks On Singer Ifunanya Death After Snake Bite
This stark reality is why experts continue to describe snakebite envenoming as a neglected crisis.
According to Professor John Amuasi, a member of the Global Snakebite Taskforce, the neglect is deeply rooted in inequality.
“Snakebite envenoming disproportionately affects rural, agricultural, and economically disadvantaged populations, which are often communities that have limited political voice and visibility.
“Many cases occur far from formal health facilities and are underreported, so the true burden is frequently underestimated. Unlike epidemic diseases, snakebite does not spread person-to-person, so it rarely generates urgent international attention. Yet the impact is profound: deaths, lifelong disability, loss of productivity, and deepening poverty for affected families. In essence, snakebite persists not because it is rare, but because it affects those least able to advocate for themselves,” he explained.
Healthcare workers in West Africa often face overwhelming challenges when treating snakebite victims, many of whom arrive too late for life-saving intervention.
Professor Amuasi noted that delays in seeking care remain one of the biggest obstacles.
“Patients often arrive late, sometimes after harmful traditional first-aid practices, by which time severe complications have developed.
“Many frontline facilities lack essential supplies, including effective antivenom, diagnostic tools, and equipment for airway management or intensive care,” he said.
He added that uneven training in snakebite management, particularly in remote areas, further complicates treatment. Weak referral systems and poor transport infrastructure often make it difficult to transfer critically ill patients quickly.
In some cases, community health nurses are not officially authorised to administer antivenom, limiting emergency response capacity.
“These constraints mean clinicians are often working under extremely challenging conditions despite having the knowledge to manage the condition,” he said.
At the centre of the crisis lies a critical shortage of antivenom, the only effective treatment for envenoming.
READ ALSO: Pilot Forcefully Makes Emergency Landing After Finding Snake In Cabin
Professor Amuasi described the issue as one of the most urgent challenges in the region.
“Antivenom is often scarce, expensive, or unavailable where it is needed most. Some products on the market are not well matched to local snake species, reducing effectiveness,” he said.
He also highlighted supply chain weaknesses and cold-storage requirements that make distribution to rural facilities difficult. Even when available, the cost often places treatment beyond the reach of poor patients.
“Ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality, regionally appropriate antivenom is essential for reducing death and disability,” he said.
Experts say many deaths could be prevented through improved public education.
Professor Amuasi stressed that delayed hospital visits, often due to reliance on ineffective remedies, remain a major cause of fatalities.
“Communities need clear, practical information: how to reduce the risk of bites, what first aid measures are safe, and why prompt medical care is critical,” he said.
He noted that awareness efforts must include farmers, teachers, community volunteers, and traditional and faith leaders to effectively address myths and misconceptions.
“When people recognise snakebite as a medical emergency and seek care early, outcomes improve dramatically,” he said.
To reduce snakebite deaths, Professor Amuasi called for urgent, coordinated action across West Africa.
According to him, key priorities include reliable procurement and equitable distribution of effective antivenom.
“Strengthened training for healthcare workers at all levels. Improved referral systems and emergency transport infrastructure. Integration of snakebite management into national health policies and insurance schemes. Investment in surveillance and research to generate accurate data.”
“These steps, taken together, can significantly reduce deaths and disability in a relatively short time,” he said.
