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Sarudzai Mupangi Features Writer
Encountering predator reptiles is a dreadful experience that no one would want to imagine, let alone go through.
The idea of watching a wildlife documentary on snakes, especially big predator serpents, can send chills down the spines of the young and the old alike.
Some even wake up sweaty from nightmares after watching such programmes.
Watching these monsters preying on other wild animals, or even human beings, sends the same chills experienced by their victims.
Encountering predator reptiles is a dreadful experience that no one would want to imagine, let alone go through.
The rainy season in Zimbabwe means more snakes, it seems.
It is, however, a relief that in Zimbabwe only 10 percent of snake species are poisonous.
Snakes with deadly bites include puff adders, cobras and the black and green mambas.
A snake bite can lead to instant death due to serious shortages of anti-venoms.
Government seems not to prioritise the purchase of anti-venoms despite increases in such cases.
According to a recent report by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe recorded 3 369 snake bite cases leading to 20 deaths by Week 50 of 2013.
This was an increase from 2 322 bites and 11 deaths reported over the same period in 2012.
The ministry’s director of disease control, Dr Portia Manangazira, said snakebite cases were on the increase bemoaning the high cost of anti-venom which was also not readily available.
She said their ministry’s budget did not include such medicines.
“Chitungwiza and Parirenyatwa hospitals have the medicine which they acquired through their own initiative because the ministry’s budget does not prioritise the purchase of the drug,” she said.
Added Dr Manangazira: “Most clinics and hospitals around the country do not have anti-venom stocks. In cases of poisonous bites, a very expensive universal polyvalent anti-venom is used because it treats symptoms caused by a variety of the poisonous species.
“While people have to be careful in bushy areas during this wet season, they should know that 90 percent of the country’s snakes are non-venomous.”
Dr Manangazira explained that in cases where the anti-venom is unavailable health workers deal with supportive management of symptoms to ensure that the infection is eliminated and allay anxiety.
She said while most people panic when bitten, there is need to gather as much information about the snake as possible in case of a bite so that it becomes easier for health practitioners to treat.
“Leaving the place without gathering information or seeing the snake would be doing away with evidence that helps make treatment easier,” she revealed.
“However, there are experts who are able to tell the kind of snake that has attacked someone by merely looking at the bite but unfortunately Zimbabwe does not have these.”
Dr Manangazira said if a victim is not aware of the species, he or she should at least be able to describe its size, colour among its many physical characteristics.
She added that people need to take victims of snake bites to the nearest health facilities as quickly as possible.
“Sometimes people cut off blood and oxygen supply to a certain part of the body in cases of a bite by tying a bandage too tightly. A person may end up losing that part when it was not necessary in the first place,” she said.
Dr Manangazira advised people to wear heavy boots that cover their feet and legs when they venture into places likely to harbour snakes.
She said under normal circumstances once the snake picks up the heavy noise of approaching footsteps they shy away just like most wild animals.
Community Working Group on Health executive director Mr Itai Rusike said given the increasing figures in snake bites and deaths the issue requires urgent attention.
He, however, lamented the fact that local pharmacies do not have anti-venom stocks and therefore pushing up the price of a minimum dosage.
Mr Rusike expressed concern that most of the cases take place in remote areas where there are no appropriate facilities for the storage of the anti-venom.
“Government should ensure that it prioritises the acquisition of anti-venom to avoid unnecessary deaths especially in rural areas where all the cases were recorded.
“It is also a cause of concern that there is limited or no refrigeration facilities for such medicines in areas where they are most needed.
“Up to now anti-venom medication is still a special import which has to go through a clearance system after a special order has been made. By the time the medicine arrives a life would have been lost,” he said.
He, however, said that only those with special medical aid can be assisted quickly as they can be airlifted to South Africa for urgent attention.
Mr Rusike said because 85 percent of the country’s medicine stocks are donor funded that should allow Government to import such medicines as anti- venom.
ZINATHA director-general Mr George Kandiero said there are many known traditional experts who can neutralise venom in case someone is attacked.
He, however, emphasised the need to know the kind of snake that has attacked an individual for easier treatment.
Mr Kandiero said practitioners from the organisation charge very little in case of such emergencies because they value the importance of life over material gain.
“We have experts who know how to neutralise snake poison but to make their work easier one should be able to describe the kind of snake that has bitten them,” Mr Kandiero said.
“In rural areas traditional leaders know just the people who render services to such victims at very reasonable charges.
“These people value life more than anything else. After all, no one is ever prepared for this kind of accident, therefore charges are next to nothing.
“The victim may be required to pay a chicken depending on various situations.”
According to the MOHCC report, no cases were recorded in Harare and Bulawayo while most cases were recorded in Mashonaland West, Central and the Midlands.
Mashonaland Central province has been credited with 99 percent completeness and timeliness in dealing with the cases.
Puff adders are the biggest culprit and are responsible for 90 percent of cases and deaths that occur in Africa.
Its venom can kill a person within 18 hours or cause paralysis if treatment is delayed because of toxins which damage the human nervous system.
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