By Hou Akot Hou
A seven-year-old girl has died after being bitten by a snake while playing with other children at Udhaba Boma in Nyalath Payam, Aweil Centre County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the girl, identified as Aluel Mangok Jongkor, was playing with her peers behind a tukul when a large snake emerged from nearby bushy vegetation and bit her.
According to Tito Luol, a relative of the deceased, the girl was immediately rushed to Aweil Civil Hospital but died before she could receive medical treatment.
“The children were playing behind the tukul when the big snake emerged from the vegetation and bit the seven-year-old girl,” Luol said.
He said the incident should serve as a warning to residents to clear bushes around their homes to reduce the risk of snakes and other dangerous animals entering residential areas.
Luol urged parents and guardians to maintain clean surroundings and ensure that bushes are cleared regularly.
“People need to clear the bushes around their homes. The area had not been cleared properly, which may have contributed to what happened to the child,” he said.
The incident came as another snake-bite case was reported in Aweil East County on Sunday night, where a 20-year-old woman was bitten by a snake in Madhol Payam and was rushed to Madhol Field Hospital for administration of anti-venom treatment.
Residents say snake bites remain a concern in several parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, particularly in areas where homes are surrounded by tall grass and bushes.
Some residents have also raised concerns about the availability of anti-venom medicines at health facilities.
One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that some health workers sell anti-venom drugs instead of making them available to patients.
“People sell the anti-venoms. This has happened and has been witnessed on numerous occasions,” the resident alleged.
The allegation could not immediately be independently verified, and no health official was available to respond to the claim.
Residents have been urged to take precautions, including clearing bushes around homes, using lights when walking at night, and keeping children away from areas where snakes may hide.
The latest incidents have renewed calls for greater community awareness about snakebite prevention and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention following a snakebite.