Resident Doctors Warn Against Misinformation on Snakebite Treatment Following Ifunanya’s Death

Nigerian Doctors’ Group Warns Against Medical Misinformation Following Singer’s Death

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a stern warning about the spread of medical misinformation in the wake of singer Ifunanya Nwangene’s death from snake bite complications.

In a statement released Thursday, NARD President Mohammad Suleiman expressed deep concern about recent public discussions surrounding the incident, particularly pointing to inaccurate claims broadcast on a recent episode of TVC Breakfast. The association conveyed condolences to Nwangene’s family, friends, and fans, while emphasizing that misleading narratives risk confusing the public and unfairly blaming healthcare providers.

“While public outrage over this incident is understandable, NARD is compelled to address the worrying spread of medical misinformation,” the statement read. The association noted that such claims, when aired on national platforms, could damage the reputation of healthcare workers operating under challenging conditions.

During the criticized television segment, presenters questioned the hospital’s treatment protocols, specifically challenging the removal of a tied limb and the administration of intravenous fluids for a snakebite victim.

NARD strongly refuted these claims, clarifying that tying or constricting a snake-bitten limb is not considered appropriate care in contemporary medicine. “This method has long been abandoned due to evidence showing that it can worsen tissue injury, increase the risk of necrosis, and does not meaningfully prevent venom dissemination,” the association explained. Current evidence-based guidelines explicitly advise against using tourniquets in snakebite cases.

Regarding intravenous fluids, NARD emphasized their importance in snakebite treatment: “The administration of intravenous fluids in snake bite victims is not only appropriate but often life-saving, especially in cases complicated by shock, hemotoxic effects, dehydration, or evolving systemic involvement.” The association dismissed the characterization of IV fluids as merely “treatment for malaria,” describing them instead as “a fundamental supportive intervention used across a wide range of medical emergencies.”

The organization highlighted that snake antivenom remains the definitive treatment for envenomation, with timely availability often determining survival outcomes. The persistent shortage of antivenom and other essential medications in Nigerian hospitals points to deeper systemic failures in health financing, procurement, and supply chain management—issues that NARD believes deserve greater national attention.

Healthcare workers across Nigeria continue to operate under severely constrained conditions, frequently lacking adequate drugs, equipment, and staffing, according to NARD. “Publicly blaming healthcare workers for outcomes rooted in systemic deficiencies is unjust and counterproductive,” the statement noted.

The association called on media organizations to consult medical experts when covering health-related topics and urged responsible reporting that educates rather than inflames public sentiment. NARD also appealed to government authorities at all levels to prioritize consistent availability of life-saving medicines like snake antivenom, particularly in snake-endemic regions.

The statement follows intense public debate after reports emerged of Ms. Nwangene’s death at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jabi, Abuja. The Nigerian Medical Association’s Lagos State branch also criticized the TVC Breakfast program, describing its commentary on intravenous fluid use during resuscitation as misleading and unprofessional.

FMC Jabi’s management has denied allegations that it provided inadequate care or lacked anti-snake venom. In a statement signed by Head of Clinical Services Bioku Muftau, the hospital explained that Nwangene died from severe neurotoxic complications, despite receiving “immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.” According to the hospital, arrangements were being made to transfer her to the Intensive Care Unit when her condition suddenly deteriorated.

Nwangene, also known as Nanyah, was a soprano with the Amemuso Choir. The choir confirmed her death on February 1 via Instagram, adding to the national conversation about snakebite treatment and healthcare system deficiencies in Nigeria.