I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, choir members of Amemuso Choir, fans, and the entire Nigerian music community mourning the loss of Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene, professionally known as Nanyah-music. At only 26, this talented soprano, former The Voice Nigeria contestant, and trained architect was taken far too soon on 31 January after a snakebite in her Abuja home. Her vibrant voice and promising future leave an irreplaceable void, and this preventable tragedy has shaken many. May her soul rest in peace, and may her loved ones find strength in the outpouring of tributes.
The circumstances surrounding Nanyah’s death have sparked widespread grief, outrage, and debate. Reports indicate she was bitten while asleep, self-referred to a nearby clinic that lacked antivenom, then drove herself to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, where she received treatment including polyvalent antivenom, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and resuscitation efforts. The hospital has firmly denied claims of negligence or antivenom unavailability, attributing her death to severe neurotoxic complications from the bite consistent with envenomation from species like cobras common in the region, which can cause rapid respiratory paralysis.
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International guidelines, such as those from the World Health Organisation (WHO), emphasise that antivenom is crucial for neutralising venom but must be complemented by supportive care in severe cases. Neurotoxic bites often lead to bulbar palsy, difficulty breathing, and respiratory failure, requiring prompt interventions like supplemental oxygen, airway management, close monitoring and, if paralysis progresses, mechanical ventilation or intubation. Antivenom alone does not reverse established neuromuscular blockade quickly, so timely escalation to advanced respiratory support is frequently life-saving.
In Nanyah’s case, while antivenom was reportedly administered, conflicting accounts persist: some friends and family members describe initial delays in accessing appropriate care (e.g, a first facility without antivenom, questions about whether the hospital had sufficient or the right type of antivenom, and her evident struggle to breathe in her final hours which is is typical of neurotoxicity that requires ventilatory support).
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The hospital maintains that all protocols were followed, and she succumbed despite intensive efforts, including CPR. Without a full independent timeline or investigation, it’s difficult to definitively assign blame, but the discrepancies highlight legitimate public concerns about emergency preparedness, particularly public education about deadly scenarios like snakebites, antivenom stocking, rapid triage for respiratory compromise, and ICU-level support in urban tertiary facilities like FMC Jabi.
Equally concerning is the misinformation that emerged in media commentary, including from TVC journalists on their popular Breakfast TV show, which questioned the removal of a hand tourniquet and the intravenous (IV) administration of antivenom. Evidence-based guidelines strongly advise against tying tourniquets, as they risk tissue damage, ischemia, and worsened systemic effects upon release; their removal under medical supervision is appropriate. Antivenom must be given IV for effective systemic distribution; other routes are inadequate. Hypotension and circulatory issues are recognised venom effects; as such, IV fluid administration is not a treatment error in this scenario. Spreading such inaccuracies without expert consultation can confuse the public and deter proper care-seeking.
This tragedy exposes deeper systemic issues in Nigeria’s healthcare: gaps in proximity and speed of access to emergency snakebite care, and the need for better residential safety awareness in snake-prone areas like Abuja.
It also underscores the harm of irresponsible journalism in the social media era, where sensational claims can amplify mistrust without advancing solutions.
READ ALSO: Ifunanya Nwangene: Senate asks health ministry to ensure availability of antivenoms in hospitals
A balanced path forward requires:
– An impartial review of the care timeline to clarify what happened and identify any preventable lapses.
– Community education and awareness programmes with accurate knowledge about snake behaviour, risks, and safe responses.
– Urgent improvements in antivenom supply chains, staff training on neurotoxic snakebite management, and access to ventilatory support in hospitals.
– Media responsibility: journalists must verify facts with credible sources (e.g, WHO guidelines, medical experts) rather than fuel speculation.
Nanyah’s death is a painful reminder that snakebite, which is a neglected tropical disease, remains deadly when systems fail. Let her memory drive meaningful change: stronger emergency responses, accountability, and accurate information to save lives.
Rest in power, Nanyah. May your voice continue to inspire, even in silence.
Ayodele Alao
MBCHB, FWACS
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