The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised concerns over public discourse and medical misinformation surrounding the reported death of a young singer, Ifunaya, allegedly from complications of a snakebite at a hospital in Abuja.

The association described the loss of a young life under such circumstances as painful and unacceptable, and condoled with her family, friends and fans over the tragic incident.

In a statement jointly signed by the NARD President, Dr Mohammad Usman Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, the association said while public outrage over the incident is understandable, it was compelled to address the worrying spread of medical misinformation.

NARD particularly referenced statements made during a recent broadcast of TVC Breakfast, where inaccurate claims were allegedly presented regarding the standard management of snakebite victims. The association warned that such misinformation, when aired on national platforms, risks misleading the public and unfairly maligning frontline healthcare workers.

The association explained that, contrary to claims made on the programme, tying or constricting a snake-bitten limb is not recommended in modern medical practice. It noted that the method has long been abandoned due to evidence showing it can worsen tissue injury, increase the risk of necrosis and does not meaningfully prevent venom spread.

“Current, evidence-based guidelines strongly discourage this practice,” the statement said.

NARD further stated that the administration of intravenous fluids in snakebite victims is not only appropriate but often life-saving, particularly in cases complicated by shock, haemotoxic effects, dehydration or evolving systemic involvement.

The association emphasised that it is incorrect and misleading to suggest that intravenous fluids are “treatment for malaria,” stressing that they are a fundamental supportive intervention used across a wide range of medical emergencies.

“It is important to emphasise that snake antivenom remains the definitive treatment for envenomation, and its timely availability can mean the difference between life and death,” the statement read.

NARD noted that the persistent unavailability of antivenom and other essential medicines in many Nigerian hospitals reflects longstanding systemic failures in health financing, procurement and supply chain management, adding that this is the core issue that deserves national attention.

“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. Publicly blaming healthcare workers for outcomes that stem from systemic deficiencies is not only unjust but counterproductive,” the association said.

NARD urged the media to engage qualified medical experts when discussing health-related issues and to ensure responsible and accurate reporting that educates rather than inflames public sentiment.

The association also called on government authorities at all levels to prioritise the consistent availability of life-saving medicines such as snake antivenom, particularly in snake-endemic regions.

“Preventable deaths should prompt constructive, informed conversations on health system reform, not sensationalism or misplaced blame. If we are truly committed to preventing future tragedies, our collective focus must be on strengthening the health system and supporting those who work within it,” the statement added. (The Guardian)

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