Abuja: There has been an outpouring of grief in Nigeria following the death of an aspiring singer who died on Saturday after being bitten by a snake in the capital, Abuja. Ifunanya Nwangene, 26, rose to prominence after appearing on The Voice Nigeria, the local version of the international TV singing competition, in 2021. She was known for her versatility, blending jazz, opera, classical music, and soul.

According to BBC, videos shared on social media show a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment, as people nearby can be heard screaming: "It is a cobra!" A close friend, Sam Ezugwu, the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir where she sang, described Nwangene as a "rising star." He mentioned that she had been planning to stage her first solo concert later this year and was also a trained architect.

Hillary Obinna, another friend who sang alongside her, reported that Nwangene had been asleep when "the snake bite woke her up." He revealed that two snakes were later found in the house. Initially, she sought treatment at a nearby clinic, which lacked antivenom, prompting her to go to a hospital.

Ezugwu recounted rushing to the hospital upon learning of her situation. The hospital possessed one of the required antivenoms but not the other. "While they were trying to stabilize her, she could not speak but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe," he added. Despite his efforts to find the missing antivenom, he returned to find that she had died. The entire choir visited the hospital that evening, "hoping that a miracle would happen."

In a statement, the hospital denied the unavailability of the venom and stated that claims of inadequate response were "unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation." The Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, asserted that immediate and appropriate treatment was provided, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom. They reported that her condition suddenly deteriorated before a transfer to intensive care, and medics were "unable to revive her."

Obinna described Nwangene as "a very wonderful girl, humble, very intelligent, and very talented." He added, "Everybody is shattered. We could not sleep at night."

Nwangene's death has reignited debates in Nigeria about the quality of healthcare and patient safety, following a series of allegations of medical negligence, including the recent death of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 21-month-old son. In response to the public outcry, Nigeria's health minister has acknowledged "systemic challenges" in the health system and announced the creation of a national task force on "clinical governance and patient safety."

Most snakebite victims in Nigeria reside in rural areas, leaving many Nigerians shocked at Nwangene's death in an upmarket part of the capital. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights venomous snakebites as a neglected public health issue in many tropical and subtropical countries. In Africa, between 435,000 and 580,000 snakebites requiring treatment are recorded annually, with the burden mainly on women, children, and farmers in rural communities.

Experts indicate that the shortage of antivenom is a significant reason the scale of the problem is challenging to assess. The high cost of antivenom and difficulties in storage, due to unreliable electricity, further complicate the situation, often leading victims to seek care from traditional healers, resulting in unrecorded cases.