Ifunanya Nwangene was asleep last Saturday morning in her ground-floor apartment in Nigeria's capital city when she was awoken at around 08:00 by a searing pain on her wrist.
A snake came up on her bed and bit her, Ifunanya's father, Christopher Nwangene, shared with the BBC. This devastating incident has raised serious concerns about Nigeria's handling of snakebite cases and the availability of antivenom, especially in a nation that reportedly has the world's third-highest incidence of snakebites.
Ifunanya, a talented soprano known for her performances on the local version of The Voice, was well aware of the urgency to get medical help to treat her snakebite. She applied a tourniquet to her arm, a method once accepted but now criticized as dangerous due to its potential to cause significant tissue damage.
When she arrived at the first hospital, she found there was no antivenom available. With time ticking away, she was transferred to Abuja's Federal Medical Centre, where Christopher quickly alerted family to assist her. Unfortunately, upon arrival, her situation was dire.
Desperate for aid, both her uncle and friend rushed to find more antivenom as Ifunanya struggled to breathe and communicate. Sadly, despite efforts from concerned friends and family, she eventually lost her life. The events surrounding Ifunanya's death underscore the dire need for prepared and responsive healthcare practices in Nigeria, particularly concerning snakebite treatment.
The World Health Organization recognizes snakebites as a neglected tropical disease, estimating they cause around 30,000 deaths per year in sub-Saharan Africa. Snakebite antivenom in Nigeria is costly, and there are widespread concerns regarding shortages, lack of available treatment options, and the extended timeframes required for hospital procedures. Following Ifunanya's tragic story, there are growing calls from the Nigerian Senate urging the health ministry to ensure adequate supplies of antivenom are readily accessible nationwide.
Her death has highlighted not just the public health crisis surrounding snakebites in Nigeria but has also sparked a national conversation about the broader support needed for the victims and their families. The country must address these critical healthcare gaps to prevent future tragedies.
A snake came up on her bed and bit her, Ifunanya's father, Christopher Nwangene, shared with the BBC. This devastating incident has raised serious concerns about Nigeria's handling of snakebite cases and the availability of antivenom, especially in a nation that reportedly has the world's third-highest incidence of snakebites.
Ifunanya, a talented soprano known for her performances on the local version of The Voice, was well aware of the urgency to get medical help to treat her snakebite. She applied a tourniquet to her arm, a method once accepted but now criticized as dangerous due to its potential to cause significant tissue damage.
When she arrived at the first hospital, she found there was no antivenom available. With time ticking away, she was transferred to Abuja's Federal Medical Centre, where Christopher quickly alerted family to assist her. Unfortunately, upon arrival, her situation was dire.
Desperate for aid, both her uncle and friend rushed to find more antivenom as Ifunanya struggled to breathe and communicate. Sadly, despite efforts from concerned friends and family, she eventually lost her life. The events surrounding Ifunanya's death underscore the dire need for prepared and responsive healthcare practices in Nigeria, particularly concerning snakebite treatment.
The World Health Organization recognizes snakebites as a neglected tropical disease, estimating they cause around 30,000 deaths per year in sub-Saharan Africa. Snakebite antivenom in Nigeria is costly, and there are widespread concerns regarding shortages, lack of available treatment options, and the extended timeframes required for hospital procedures. Following Ifunanya's tragic story, there are growing calls from the Nigerian Senate urging the health ministry to ensure adequate supplies of antivenom are readily accessible nationwide.
Her death has highlighted not just the public health crisis surrounding snakebites in Nigeria but has also sparked a national conversation about the broader support needed for the victims and their families. The country must address these critical healthcare gaps to prevent future tragedies.
