Ifunanya Nwangene, a 26-year-old singer and former contestant on The Voice Nigeria, died from a snakebite she sustained while sleeping in her apartment in Abuja. Despite urgent efforts to seek treatment and the acquisition of necessary antivenom, she passed away shortly after being bitten. Her death sparked a debate about the availability of snakebite treatment in Nigerian hospitals. Nwangene had shown promise as an artist, preparing for her first solo concert, and was remembered by her choir as a rising star.
Globally, snakebites result in about 138,000 deaths and 400,000 disabilities each year. Most deaths are preventable with proper and prompt administration of antivenom, which is recognized as an essential medicine by the World Health Organization (WHO). In Nigeria, 41% of the 29 snake species are venomous, and a lack of available antivenom has been reported.
Nwangene initially sought help at a hospital that lacked antivenom, ultimately receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Center where she developed severe complications. Reports indicate that additional medication needed for her treatment was unavailable as well. While the FMC claimed adequate care was provided, others, including choir members, expressed concerns about the hospital’s response.
Activists call for more investment in addressing snakebites as a neglected tropical disease, emphasizing the need for political commitment and resources to prevent such tragedies.
