The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jabi, Abuja, Dr. Saad Ahmed, has stated that the death of singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, was due to a critical delay in receiving medical care following a cobra bite.
The 26-year-old artist's death recently sparked widespread public concern and debate over Nigeria's emergency healthcare response.
Speaking to journalists, Dr. Ahmed explained that Nwangene was brought to the hospital more than two hours after being bitten. He emphasized that anti-venom is most effective when administered within 10 to 15 minutes of the incident.
"By the time she presented, the venom had already become systemic," Ahmed said. "Contrary to reports on social media, she was promptly given two doses of anti-venom. However, with a highly poisonous snake like a cobra, time is absolutely crucial."
The medical director defended the hospital's preparedness, noting that FMC Abuja had anti-venom in stock and a fully staffed emergency team. He described the incident as a "wake-up call" for healthcare facilities across the country.
Dr. Ahmed also used the opportunity to advocate for expanding the centralised housemanship system for new medical graduates to include state and private hospitals. He argued that this would help address the shortage of training slots in federal institutions and improve overall medical capacity.
The Senate has since urged governments at state and federal levels to establish better-coordinated emergency response systems to ensure quicker access to life-saving treatment in similar crises.
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