Addressing one of the claims, NARD clarified that the practice of tying or constricting a snake-bitten limb is no longer recommended in modern medical practice.
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has expressed deep concern over what it described as widespread medical misinformation following the reported death of a young singer, Ifunaya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, from complications related to a snake bite at a hospital in Abuja.
In a statement on Thursday, signed by its national leadership under President Mohammad Usman, NARD expressed “deep concern” over the public discourse surrounding the incident, noting that while public outrage was understandable, the circulation of inaccurate medical information poses serious risks to both public understanding and frontline healthcare workers.
“The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has followed with deep concern the public discourse surrounding the tragic death of the young singer, Ifunaya, reportedly from complications of a snake bite at a hospital in Abuja,” the association said.
It added, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and fans. The loss of a young life under such circumstances is painful and unacceptable.”
NARD faulted statements made during a recent broadcast of TVC Breakfast, where claims were allegedly made regarding the standard management of snake bite victims. According to the association, such claims were medically inaccurate and risked misleading the public when aired on a national platform.
It warned that “such misinformation, when aired on national platforms, risks misleading the public and unfairly maligning frontline healthcare workers.”
Addressing one of the claims, NARD clarified that the practice of tying or constricting a snake-bitten limb is no longer recommended in modern medical practice.
“Contrary to claims made on the programme, tying or constricting a snake-bitten limb is not recommended in modern medical practice,” the association stated.
It explained that the method had “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,” adding that “current, evidence-based guidelines strongly discourage this practice.”
NARD also pushed back against claims concerning the use of intravenous fluids, stressing that such treatment is often critical in snake bite management.
“The administration of intravenous fluids in snake bite victims is not only appropriate but often life-saving,” the statement noted, particularly “in cases complicated by shock, hemotoxic effects, dehydration, or evolving systemic involvement.”
Describing contrary claims as misleading, the association said, “It is incorrect and misleading to suggest that intravenous fluids are ‘treatment for malaria.’ Rather, they are a fundamental supportive intervention used across a wide range of medical emergencies.”
The association emphasized that snake antivenom remains the definitive treatment for envenomation and that delays or unavailability could prove fatal.
“It is important to emphasize that snake antivenom remains the definitive treatment for envenomation, and its timely availability can mean the difference between life and death,” NARD stated.
However, it lamented what it described as persistent systemic failures within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
According to NARD, “the persistent unavailability of antivenom and other essential medicines in many Nigerian hospitals reflects a longstanding systemic failure in health financing, procurement, and supply chain management.”
The statement further highlighted the difficult conditions under which healthcare workers operate.
“Frontline healthcare workers operate daily under extremely constrained conditions, often without essential drugs, adequate equipment, or sufficient staffing, yet continue to provide care to the best of their training and ability,” it said.
NARD cautioned against placing blame on healthcare workers for outcomes driven by systemic deficiencies, describing such actions as “unjust” and “counterproductive.”
The association called on media organisations to exercise responsibility in health reporting.
“NARD calls on media organisations to engage medical experts when discussing health-related issues and to ensure responsible, accurate reporting that educates rather than inflames public sentiment,” the statement said.
It also urged government authorities to ensure the consistent availability of life-saving medicines, particularly in snake-endemic regions, and stressed that preventable deaths should lead to “constructive, informed conversations on health system reform, not sensationalism or misplaced blame.”
“If we are truly committed to preventing future tragedies,” NARD concluded, “our collective focus must be on strengthening the health system and supporting those who work within it.”
Previously, the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the widespread lack of life-saving antidotes in Nigerian hospitals, warning that gaps in emergency preparedness were contributing to avoidable deaths across the country.
The lawmakers urged state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to establish coordinated emergency referral and response systems linking public and private hospitals to ensure rapid access to critical medicines during medical emergencies.