The tragic death of 26-year-old singer Ifunanya Nwangene, known as Nanyah, has cast a stark light on Nigeria's ongoing crisis with snakebite fatalities. The former contestant on The Voice Nigeria died in hospital after being bitten by a snake while asleep in her flat in the capital city of Abuja.
A Rising Star's Sudden Death
Ifunanya Nwangene was reportedly preparing for her first solo concert later this year when the incident occurred on 31 January. According to friends and colleagues, she was woken at approximately 8:30am by a bite on her wrist from a grey snake. Two snakes were later discovered in her apartment, including a medium-sized cobra found in her bedroom.
Her final message to friends was a desperate plea: "Please come." Despite being rushed to medical facilities, Nwangene died just hours after the bite occurred. Her choir described her as a rising star "on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world" in a heartfelt tribute following her untimely death.
Hospital Treatment and Antivenom Shortages
The circumstances surrounding Nwangene's death have ignited fierce debate about the availability of effective antivenoms in Nigerian hospitals. According to social media posts by her brother, the first hospital she attended in Abuja had no antivenom available.
She was subsequently transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) where she received treatment including polyvalent snake antivenom. However, Sam Ezugwu, director of the Amemuso choir to which Nwangene belonged, revealed that doctors urgently requested additional medication while he was purchasing supplies from a nearby pharmacy.
"We returned to the hospital to find Ifunanya's lifeless body on the bed," Ezugwu stated on the choir's Facebook page. "We cried, prayed, screamed, but she could no longer hear us." The FMC attributed her death to "severe neurotoxic complications from the snakebite" and a "sudden deterioration."
Global Snakebite Crisis
Snakebites represent a significant global health challenge, killing approximately one person every five minutes worldwide. This translates to up to 138,000 deaths annually, with an additional 400,000 people suffering permanent disabilities. Many cases are believed to go unrecorded, particularly when victims seek traditional healers rather than hospital treatment.
The World Health Organization classifies snakebite envenoming as a neglected tropical disease and includes antivenoms on its list of essential medicines. WHO officials emphasise that most snakebite deaths are "entirely preventable" if safe, effective antivenoms are available and administered promptly.
Healthcare System Challenges
A recent poll of 904 healthcare workers across Brazil, Nigeria, India and Indonesia by the Strike Out Snakebite global initiative revealed alarming statistics. Ninety-nine percent reported challenges with antivenom administration, including:
- Daily shortages of antivenom (reported by more than a third of healthcare workers)
- Lack of training on monitoring progression signs
- Poor infrastructure and inadequate equipment
Nigeria faces particular challenges with 29 snake species, 41% of which are venomous. Across Africa, shortages of antivenom due to manufacturing problems have been widely reported, alongside concerns about product quality.
Political Will and Funding Shortfalls
Campaigners highlight insufficient funding to meet United Nations goals established in 2019 to halve snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030. Research investment remains "precarious" according to experts in the field.
Elhadj As Sy, chancellor of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and co-chair of the Global Snakebite Taskforce, stated: "Many solutions exist, but we need political will and bold commitments from partners and investors to turn the tide on this preventable yet devastating neglected tropical disease."
He emphasised that "snakebite must no longer be overlooked or underfunded by the international community. It is time for action – not sympathy, not statements, but action worthy of the scale of this crisis."
The Federal Medical Centre has denied allegations of inadequate antivenom supplies, stating: "Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment... We stand by the quality of care and dedication our team demonstrates daily. The claims of non-availability of anti-snake venom and inadequate response are unfounded."
Despite these assurances, Nwangene's death has brought renewed attention to a healthcare crisis affecting vulnerable communities across Nigeria and similar regions worldwide.
