By Hou Akot Hou
A 3-year-old boy has passed away after being bitten by a snake in Riang-bar village, Aweil West County, in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state.
The deceased, identified as Garang Deng, was sleeping with his siblings when they heard a commotion among the chickens. Upon rushing to the chicken cage, Garang was bitten by a snake around 10:00 PM.
Lual Khamis, the deputy hospital director for Nyamlel, provided details on the incident.
“The boy was bitten on Sunday at night as he stormed out to go and rescue their chicken, which were being attacked by a snake. He was bitten on the neck,” he said.
“They were lying on a bed and the snake sneaked to eat chicken and they tried to rescue them in the process the boy was bitten and rushed to the hospital but passed on around 3:00 AM,” Khamis added.
This marks the third reported case of a child dying from a snake bite in the region. Last month, another child had died of a snake bite in Aweil North County.
Khamis urged the public to be vigilant during the rainy season, as snakes are more active during this time.
He also stated that the hospital has been coordinating with health partners to acquire anti-venom, but their efforts have not been successful in securing enough of the life-saving medication.
The authorities are advising residents to always light paths when moving at night and clear their surroundings to deter snakes from encroaching on living spaces.