Justice for Ifunanya Nwagene, Ensure Life-Saving Antivenom Is Available in Every Nigerian Hospital

Background

On January 31, 2026, Nigeria lost a bright star.

Ifunanya Nwagene, a 26-year-old singer and contestant on The Voice Nigeria, died after being bitten by a venomous snake, reportedly a cobra, while sleeping in her home in Abuja.

After the snakebite, she immediately sought medical help. She was first taken to Divine Health Hospital and later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi. However, reports suggest there were serious challenges in accessing antivenom — the only treatment that can save someone from a deadly snakebite.

The hospital has stated that she received treatment, including anti-snake venom. However, questions remain about whether the antivenom was available when she urgently needed it and whether faster access could have saved her life.

Despite medical efforts, Ifunanya’s condition worsened rapidly due to severe neurotoxic complications caused by the venom. She could not be revived.

A young, talented Nigerian with so much promise is now gone.

Why This Matters (With Statistics)

Snakebite is a serious but neglected public health crisis.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO):

An estimated 5.4 million people are bitten by snakes every year worldwide.
Between 81,000 and 138,000 people die annually from snakebites.
Around 400,000 survivors suffer permanent disabilities such as amputations, blindness, or chronic complications.

Sub-Saharan Africa carries one of the highest burdens.

In Nigeria alone:

Experts estimate over 100,000 snakebites occur annually.
Between 1,900 and 3,000 deaths are reported each year.
Many cases go unreported, meaning the real numbers may be much higher.
Some studies show that in certain rural areas, mortality rates can exceed 20% when antivenom is not available.

Snakebite mainly affects:

Farmers
Rural communities
Children
Low-income households

Yet antivenom — the only specific treatment for venomous snakebite — is often unavailable, unaffordable, or poorly distributed.

The World Health Organisation has classified snakebite envenoming as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) because it disproportionately affects poor and underserved communities and receives far less attention and funding than it deserves.

If a young woman living in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, could face challenges accessing life-saving antivenom, what does that mean for:

A child in Benue?
A farmer in Zamfara?
A family in rural Taraba?
A community in the Niger Delta?

This is not just a rural problem.
This is a national emergency.

Nigeria has the capacity to prevent these deaths.
What is lacking is coordination, funding, and political urgency.

Ifunanya’s death has exposed a painful truth:

We are not prepared.

And people are paying with their lives.

What We Are Demanding

We call on:

The Federal Ministry of Health
The Nigerian Senate
State Governments
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
Public and Private Hospitals

To take immediate action to:

Ensure consistent nationwide availability of quality, affordable antivenom in all major hospitals.
Create a national emergency distribution system for antivenom.
Improve funding for snakebite treatment and prevention.
Train healthcare workers on rapid response and management of snakebite cases.
Publish transparent reports on antivenom stock levels in federal hospitals.
Treat snakebite as a national health priority.

We also demand an independent review of the circumstances surrounding Ifunanya Nwagene’s death to provide clarity and restore public confidence.

In Memory of Ifunanya

Ifunanya Nwagene was more than a singer.

She was a daughter. A friend. A dreamer. A rising voice in Nigeria’s music industry.

Her death should not be in vain.

Let her story lead to change.

Let it push our leaders to act.

Let it save lives.

Call to Action

We are asking the Government of Nigeria to:

Act urgently.
Protect its citizens.
Prevent future tragedies.

Sign this petition to demand better emergency healthcare systems and guaranteed access to life-saving antivenom across Nigeria.

No more preventable deaths.
No more excuses.
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.

“We call on the Minister of Health, the National Assembly, NAFDAC, State Governors, hospital leadership, and all relevant health authorities to urgently prioritise antivenom availability, strengthen healthcare systems, and ensure no Nigerian dies due to lack of life-saving treatment. We demand a coordinated, transparent, accountability-driven strategy that saves lives now.”