By Hou Akot Hou
In Akon-beet, Wath-muok Payam of Aweil South County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, a snakebite has claimed the life of a 13-year-old girl.
The county’s Information Director, Simon Lual Buut, said the incident occurred on Monday at around 9:00 PM as the girl, identified as Abuk Kuot, was completing her household chores.
According to Lual, the teenager had been cooking and arranging utensils when she unknowingly stepped on a snake. At first, she believed she had been bitten by an insect and did not immediately recognize the danger.
After stepping out of the tukul, she informed her mother and siblings about the incident. Her father was not at home at the time, but later found her explaining what had happened upon his return.
Lual said the family did not initially treat the incident as serious, as the girl herself was unaware that it was a snake bite. Her condition later worsened during the night, leading to her death.
The incident has shocked the local community.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, especially during the rainy season when snake encounters are more frequent.
Lual advised people to avoid walking in the dark without a source of light such as a torch or mobile phone.
In a separate incident, the state’s Health Education Focal Point, Luka Lual Aleu, reported that two people died over the weekend from suspected rabid dog bites.
He attributed the deaths to reliance on traditional remedies instead of seeking medical treatment.
One of the victims was over 40 years old, while the other was a teenager.
Health officials say limited access to functional health facilities and shortages of essential medicines continue to worsen such preventable deaths.