More reactions have trailed the death of a rising singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, following a snake bite in Abuja, with the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Saheed Kehinde, condemning the neglect of primary healthcare in Nigeria.
Kehinde said primary healthcare centres are key to a functional healthcare system in any country, adding that medicines like anti-snake venoms are simple, basic things that should be available in PHCs.
“I have always said, and I will continue to say it. The federal, state, and local governments are not listening. And the main thing is that primary healthcare is the most important thing in the healthcare delivery system.
“Primary healthcare should take about 60 to 70 per cent of the budgetary allocation, followed by secondary and tertiary. Unfortunately, in this country, governments face more secondary and tertiary healthcare and neglect primary healthcare, which is the basis of care in any country in the world.
“Any country that ignores primary healthcare has a failed health system. We have a failed health system in this country; that’s the truth,” he said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday.
Why Snake Bites Should Be Attended To Early
Kehinde explained that anyone who suffers a snake bite should receive immediate medical attention due to the possibility of complications that may arise, depending on the type of snake involved.
“What I heard was that when it happened, it happened at home, probably in the morning, and she was taken to one or two hospitals before she was taken to FMC Abuja, where she was given anti-snake venom, which was what I was not, which is different from the account in the public,” he said.
“But unfortunately, I think they said she came around 11, probably, the incident happened in the morning.
“And when you have a snake bite, there are certain things that are very important. The type of snake has the type of virulence — the danger it can cause.
“There are some snakes that are not toxic, some are toxic, and it depends on the toxicity. The anti-venom is to prevent complications that can arise from that bite.
“What it does is to go and prevent, or kill or inhibit the venom from getting into the body and do any damage; that is the function of anti-venom,” the doctor added.
Asked how much time one who has suffered a snake bite should receive treatment, the state NMA chairman said, “You see, you cannot say the particular time.
“That’s why, normally in the treatment of the snake bite, you have to identify the type of snake. The type of the snake determines the virulence, and also determines how widespread it will go.
“Therefore, the issue of time is very crucial in the sense that, within minutes, you should try to give the anti-snake venom.”
PPP In Primary Healthcare
He further urged state and local governments to collaborate with the private sector to strengthen healthcare delivery at the community level.
“Primary healthcare is not only provided by the government. They should also collaborate with the private sector in medical care, in the sense that private hospitals should also be giving primary care — very simple, with a lesser amount of money that the people will pay,” he stated.
Speaking on the primary healthcare system in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, Kehinde said, “In Lagos State, we have about 300 primary healthcare centres. With the population of Lagos, those primary healthcare centres cannot cover the whole of Lagos.
“How many of the 300 primary healthcare centres have doctors? That is the question you must also ask.
“The government should look into primary healthcare. All these anti-snake [venom], anti-rabies, all those simple basic things should be available.
“What does primary healthcare mean? It means the first place you go for health, and it should not be a distance from your house.
“And what that means is that in each ward, there should be at least one primary healthcare centre.”
Nigerians Mourn Singer, Hospital Denies Alleged Negligence
Nwangene, a soprano singer, reportedly died last Saturday at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, due to a snake bite.
The singer’s death attracted reactions from many Nigerians on social media, who described her as a talented and promising.
Some Nigerians also blamed the death of the singer on poor medical attention.
But the management of the FMC denied the claim, adding that efforts were made to save the life of singer.
The hospital, while expressing condolences to the Nwagene family explained that arrangements were already being made to transfer her to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) when her condition suddenly worsened.
“Despite all efforts to stabilise her condition and transfer her to the ICU for further treatment, she experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer.
“Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom,” the hospital said in a statement on Sunday.
“After a thorough but quick evaluation, it was clear that Ms. Nwagene suffered severe neurotoxic complications from the snake bite. We stand by the quality of care and dedication our team demonstrates daily.
“The claims of non-availability of anti-snake venom and inadequate response are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation. We are committed to transparency and integrity in our practices and will continue to pursue excellence in patient care,” it added.
