This archive report was first published on 5 October 2019.
Every month, Baringo County in Kenya reports between 300 to 500 cases of snake bites, a number that has left the community in a state of fear and trauma. For families like the Kigen's and the Kiplagat's, the pain of losing loved ones to snake bites is a harsh reality they live with every day.
Seven-year-old Chebet Lagat's life was forever changed when a cobra slithered into her bed and bit her tiny wrist in 2015. The venom left her left arm paralysed, and her father, Patrick Kigen, has to keep a close eye on her at all times. 'My daughter is traumatised, she was bitten by a snake in 2015 and I have to keep an eye on her all the time,' Kigen says.
But Chebet's story is not unique. In 2015, a black mamba attacked the Kiplagat family, killing their two-year-old daughter Scolla and leaving their seven-year-old daughter Chepchirchir paralysed. The family's ordeal is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by deadly snakes in Baringo.
According to a medical report, Chepchirchir developed renal failure, cortical blindness, and limb deformity after the attack. The report highlights the need for urgent action to prevent and manage snake bites in the region.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Ministry of Health and medical organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Kenya Snakebite Research and Intervention Centre (KSRIC), have come together to train locals in first aid and prevention. County Chief Officer of Preventive and Promotive Health Winnie Bore says community health volunteers act as link persons between the community and hospital, providing critical support in managing snake bite cases.
As part of the initiative, at least 154 community health volunteers in high burden snake bite areas were trained on prevention of snake bites and management. Additionally, 233 health workers manning various hospitals were trained on how to manage snake bite victims, administer anti-venom, and provide safe treatment.
The training was conducted in April, May, and June in high-risk areas of Tiaty, Mogotio, Eldama Ravine, Baringo Central, Baringo North, and Marigat. The main challenge in handling snake bite cases, according to the Department of Health, has been traditional beliefs, with some people thinking that a snake bite is a curse and should be treated by herbalists.
Dr. Bore notes that traditional beliefs are still an issue that hinder healthcare, and a data collection tool has been developed to record cases of snake bites. The tool, known as Snake-Patient Care, will help in collating accurate figures on snake bites and provide valuable insights for action.
Common snakes in Baringo include the black mamba, puff adder, and carpet viper, according to Cecilia Wairimu, a nurse working with KSRIC. Wairimu emphasizes the importance of educating the community on what contributes to the breeding of snakes and how to keep them at bay.
KSRIC is also studying venom from different snakes collected in snake-prone counties across the country to help in developing an antivenom that is more affordable and effective.
