AWEIL – At least one person died, and two others are battling for life in two separate incidents of snake bites in Aweil West County of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.
The first incident involved a 25-year-old man who died instantly from a snake bite on Thursday in Akuach Village in Aweil West County.
Luka Lual Aleu Jok, the health education focal point for Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, told Sudans post on Saturday that the state has been experiencing cases of snake bites, with the most recent incidents involving three individuals bitten by snakes in different locations in Aweil West County.
“We have received reports of an increase in snake bites; three individuals have been bitten in three different locations in Aweil West. One of the reported cases involves a man named Chol Akol Akol, in his mid-20s, who unfortunately died as a result of a snake bite in Akuac village,” Lual said.
Lual described the situation as shocking and attributes this death to the delay in transporting the patient to the hospital for antivenom treatment.
“The two others are from War-cuei and Kuaka bomas; they were bitten by a snake, but they are battling the bites at the hospital in Aweil here,” he said.
He advised young people to avoid loitering in dark areas at night to reduce the risk of snake bites.
“Grasses and water are hosting the snakes; please be conscious that snakes inhabit such places and avoid moving at night without lighting the paths.”
He urged residents to visit health facilities whenever someone is bitten by a snake for antivenom teatment.
Health officials urged residents to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings, including their homes and the vegetation around their properties, to prevent attracting snakes.
In many regions of South Sudan, particularly in rural areas, waterlogged regions face flooding challenges, leading to frequent incidents of snake bites, especially in the Upper Nile and Northern Bahr el Ghazal’s swampy areas.
Health officials advise against using herbs as a means to save the lives of snake bite victims, as some individuals are administering chicken eggs to induce vomiting, which they believe will help.
Instead, officials recommend that people prioritize seeking medical intervention to address snake bites.
