Without antivenom or medical devices, such as ventilators, a snakebite can be fatal. Dorothy Okemo of Health Action International (HAI) in-country partner MeTA Kenya urges county officials, as well as the Kenyan government, to acknowledge and improve the situation of snakebite affected communities: “Our joint-research with HAI provided us with solid data on the snakebite situation in several counties in Kenya. We use this data to advocate for snakebite affected communities.”
An important part of Dorothy’s work is equipping people like Fred and Rose with community education material. “The fight against snakebite starts with community sensitisation. The best remedy for snakebite is to prevent it in the first place. But if it does happen, we want people to know exactly what they must do: Go to the next health facility immediately,” Dorothy adds.
According to Sammy Ngure Mbogo, the nursing officer at Entasopia Health Centre in Kajiado county the bushy areas provide breeding grounds for the snakes. He says the facility record about two snake bite cases a month. He says that children, men and women are affected in almost equal measure. Children and men are often in the bushes looking after the animals. “For women, they could be bitten by snakes as they collect firewood in the bushes. The bushes grow after the rains. These bushes become a hiding place for snakes.”
Samson Saigilu, Director Public health and sanitation Kajiado County
Samson Saigilu, Director Public health and sanitation Kajiado County says there are many snakebites in the county, something that he says needs immediate attention. In some parts of the county, he adds, poor coverage of health facilities worsens the situation. “In the last one year, Kajiado West subcounty reports the highest cases of snakebites. In this sub county, we do not have a main hospital. What we have is a Magadi Soda Hospital, which is a company hospital,” he says.
This story was made possible with the support of Health Action International.
