An Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, has died from a snake bite after two hospitals reportedly lacked sufficient antivenom to treat her condition, highlighting critical gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The tragic incident has drawn attention to the shortage of essential medical supplies, particularly antivenom, in Nigerian hospitals and the devastating consequences such deficiencies can have on patients’ lives.
According to reports, Ifunanya was bitten by a snake and was rushed to medical facilities for urgent treatment. However, the hospitals she was taken to did not have adequate stocks of antivenom, the critical medication needed to counteract snake venom and prevent fatal complications.
Family members and friends disclosed that desperate efforts were made to locate the life-saving medication, including attempts to transfer her to other facilities and sourcing antivenom from alternative locations. Unfortunately, these efforts came too late to save the rising artist’s life.
“She was bitten by a snake and we rushed her to the hospital immediately. They told us they didn’t have enough antivenom. We tried another hospital, same story. By the time we were able to get the antivenom, it was too late. We lost her,” a source close to the family revealed.
The death of the young singer has sparked outrage on social media, with Nigerians expressing frustration over the persistent lack of basic medical supplies in healthcare facilities across the country. Many have questioned why essential medications like antivenom remain scarce despite snake bites being a known medical emergency in Nigeria.
Healthcare experts have long warned about the inadequate supply of antivenom in Nigerian hospitals, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where snake bites are more common. The World Health Organization recognizes snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease that causes significant mortality and morbidity, particularly in developing countries.
Nigeria, with its diverse ecosystem and large agricultural population, experiences thousands of snake bites annually. However, the availability of quality antivenom remains severely limited, with many hospitals either lacking the medication entirely or stocking insufficient quantities.
The problem is compounded by issues including poor storage facilities for temperature-sensitive antivenoms, lack of training for healthcare workers in snakebite management, and inadequate funding for procurement of these specialized medications.
Ifunanya’s death has reignited calls for urgent government intervention to address the antivenom shortage and improve emergency medical care across Nigeria. Health advocates are demanding that authorities prioritize the procurement and distribution of essential medicines, particularly those needed for treatable medical emergencies.
“This is a preventable death. Snake bites, when treated promptly with appropriate antivenom, do not have to be fatal. The fact that we continue to lose lives because hospitals lack basic supplies is unacceptable,” said a public health physician commenting on the incident.
The tragedy has also prompted discussions about the need for better public awareness regarding snake bite first aid and the importance of rapid medical intervention.
Friends and colleagues in the music community have mourned Ifunanya’s untimely death, describing her as a talented artist whose promising career has been cut short by systemic healthcare failures.
As of the time of this report, neither the hospitals involved nor government health authorities have issued official statements regarding the incident or the antivenom shortage.
The case underscores broader challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system, including inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, shortage of essential medications, and insufficient emergency response capacity—issues that continue to cost lives across the country.
