Health authorities in different parts of Warrap State say an upsurge in snakebite cases has been recorded amid a shortage of antivenom medicines.
Warrap State health minister Abak Yel Madoot told Radio Tamazuj that about 150 cases have been recorded with two fatalities since June.
"I have stayed for long in Juba to engage other partners to help the gap which is not covered by the national ministry of health like antivenom injections. So I came on Wednesday and I got that drugs finished and the case of snake bites are very high now. We have a child amputated in the leg in the hospital because of a snakebite which was delayed in the village," she said.
Although there are no antivenoms, the minister urges the communities to rush all snakebite patients to the nearby health facility.
"In Warrap, we have 148 cases of snakebites starting from June to October and other counties like Gogrial West didn’t send some cases and we have two death cases in Tonj North. I realized this alarm when I visited Twic County last June. The health condition was bad that's why I went to Juba and talked to Health Pooled Fund- HPF Country Director and he donated some drugs for snakebites which have finished recently," Minister Yel said.
Dech Akot, Tonj North County health director said his county recorded 35 cases of snakebites with the lastest case recorded on Wednesday this week.
"Cases of snakebites are very many, the floods have destroyed many health facilities like Faraqsika, Pagakdit, and Abiembol. Abiembol health facility was facilitated by Islamic Relief it was equipped with the cold chain. Unfortunately, it collapsed at night and a lot of equipment was destroyed including solar panels," Akot said. "The cases of snakebites are 35 in which 2 people have died in Majak village, Abiembol Boma of Akop payam. We are really in need of antivenoms and the ministry of health is trying hard to find some."
Martino Manut, the in-charge at the Faraqsika Primary Health Care Unit said malaria and pneumonia cases are also on the rise in his area.
"Some far villages from the facility reported snakebites about five cases were recorded and yesterday (Wednesday). I referred one child with a severe condition of snakebite to Warrap PHCC. We don't know what to do this month as there are no medicines,” Manut said. “In summary, 150 are cases of pneumonia for children above five years, and 120 cases are recorded for children under five."
The authorities have called for an urgent supply of the drugs to help save lives as the cases continue to rise.