Duk County in Jonglei State has witnessed a spike in snakebite cases with 21 cases, including two deaths, reported since last month, amidst a severe anti-venom drug shortage.
According to health authorities who spoke to Radio Tamazuj, the facilities there run short of anti-venom drugs since March, and that the local population resorted to home remedies.
“Drug shortage is a big concern to us in Duk Padiet town. From the beginning of this month alone, we registered seven snakebite cases, including one child's death. And we still have another child in hospital,” said Peter Mathiang, the head of Duk Padiet Primary Health Care Center (PHCC).
He added, “Last month, there were about 10 cases. We do not have anti-venom to treat snakebite victims. When they are brought to the facility, we only provide some support.”
Meanwhile, Edward Chol Deng, a clinical officer in charge of Poktap PHCC, said, “For us, over the past months, we have had 14 cases, including one fatality. Last week we received 15 doses of anti-venom from UNICEF and MDM but there is already a shortage. We have been using those 15 doses. Those doses are to only serve 15 people yet every day, we get a case.”
The health authorities called for an intervention, describing snakebites as a public health concern.
For his part, Elijah Manyok Ayiei, the Executive Director of Duk County, decried the rising cases of snakebites and said it is a threat because they disrupt the livelihoods of the local population and called for an intervention by the government and relevant aid agencies in the state.
Duk is one of the counties worst hit by floods in Jonglei since July last year.