BY FIONA MOTSA
MBABANE – The rising temperatures are a cause for concern to all Emaswati. Other than the imminent effects of global warming, snake attacks should be expected as snakes come out of hibernation earlier due to the extreme heat.
Eswatini is especially affected by snakebites and snakebites are a disease of circumstance and poverty. These bites often result in loss of life, a limb or even the ability to work because of a life-changing injury. Eswatini has a variety of seven venomous species of snakes.
Eswatini Positive News interviewed Thea Litschka-Koen who is the head of Eswatini Antivenom Foundation, a foundation that raises funds to treat snake bite victims in Eswatini.
“The first lesson about snakes is to learn and be able to identify which snakes are venomous and which ones are harmless and the type of first aid they need to administer to victims,” said Koen.
According to the Antivenom Foundation website, Eswatini has 51 harmless snakes and 7 venomous snakes and the majority of snakebite victims are those who live in poor or rural communities.
Koen said educating people in communities in Eswatini about snakes and snakebite avoidance, and how to live safely in areas where venomous snakes occur, saves lives and is key to effective prevention and control.
“We focus on teaching EmaSwati on how to read characters of snakes and how to handle them correctly. We let them touch and help them catch snakes and put them in a container. We also show them mild and venomous snakes,” said Koen.
“However when you get bitten by a Mamba or Mozambican spitting cobra where you will need to rush to a hospital for anti-venom for those bites which are life threatening,” said Koen.
Koen also advised Emaswati not to use rubbing lotions of any kind on snake bites as that just creates an infection, but rather go seek medical attention in a hospital. Timely treatment with appropriate antivenom, along with modern medical care can prevent, reverse or at least minimise the major clinical aspects of snake according to Koen.
Koen further said that Emaswati needed to know that most snakebites happened at night and two hours after sunset. If you walk at night use a torch and do not walk blindly. Also, most snake bites happen below the knee so if you are walking out late wear gum boots for your safety.
“Emaswati must try and keep tidy. Snakes love rodents and if you have an infestation of them like rats, bats or frogs, you are most likely going to attract snakes in your home. Keeping birds of prey like owls or cats to reduce rodents can help minimize snakes and also keeping mixed fowl a bit further from your house can reduce snake bites”, said Koen.
Below is a photo guide of the most dangerous of Eswatini:
