I also use traditional medicine but not for snake bites – Thea

M– Only Antivenom can counteract snake bite, but a sixyear-old girl was given Jeyes fluid.

Jeyes Fluid is a brand of disinfectant, strictly for external use. However, it’s not uncommon for people to wrongly consume it as a form of medicine.

*Jolly was rushed to the hospital when it was suspected she had been bitten by a snake but not before being administered with Jeyes Fluid. It is said that she was lying on a bed when a snake fell on her from the roof.

Jolly then jumped out to report that she had been bitten. Fearing that maybe she had been bitten by a venomous snake, she was given the disinfectant but this only caused her to fall ill.

It is alleged she first developed some symptoms not related to snake venom. When she arrived at the hospital, she was urgently attended to but she was not responding to treatment. The EswatiniAntivenom Foundation was also contacted by the hos

Thea Koen displaying awareness session.

pital. The foundation works with at least 16 health facilities to ensure that victims of snake bites are speedily assisted.

a black mamba

M– Traditional medicines are very effective for the treatment of illness but not for snake bites.

Thea Koen, the founder of Eswatini Antivenom Foundation revealed that she also used traditional medicines like any other liSwati.

She said for other illnesses, she did not have a problem with traditional medicines and only used conventional ones for certain ailments.

However, Thea said there was no proof that traditional medicines such as sibiba were effective in treating snake bites.

Thea said hundreds of people who got bitten by snakes annually approached traditional healers before going to the hospital. She said 100 per cent of these cases, the patients were not assisted and that they ended up being rushed to hospital.

Thea said antivenom

during Approached a snake

Thea Koen, who is the founder of the organisation also confirmed that the girl was administered Jeyes Fluid while at home.

She also revealed that the use of Jeyes Fluid on snake bite vicwas extremely expensive, ranging from E25 000. She said if traditional medicines, which were cheaper could treat snake bites, she was willing to use them.

However, she said they were not effective.

Thea also said she was keen on working with traditional healers. “We need a workshop where we could learn from each other,” she said.

Collaborating

She said collaborating with traditional healers would ensure that people were quickly rushed to the hospital for speedy treatment.

Thea also commended the Ministry of Health for its continued effort in ensuring that snake bites were given priority. She said in nearly all the health facilities, some people were trained on snakes and also that through the same ministry, an expert educated people on snakes and safety via radio.

tims was very common, though it caused more harm and did not treat the victim.

Thea said she noticed that the girl did not show symptoms commonly caused by snake venom. Instead, the girl is said to have exhibited symptoms such as shivering.

The girl then later revealed that before she was rushed to the hospital, she was given Jeyes Fluid for treatment.

Thea warned that Jeyes Fluid was a disinfectant and could be poisonous when consumed. She said the fluid was often mistakenly used to treat snake bites and that this only delayed the real treatment. “Only antivenom can treat snake bites,’’ she said.

Thea further revealed that the girl was eventually treated.

Further, Thea said the administering of such harmful substances to children was a form of child abuse as it made them ill and could even result to death.

Also, Thea said another child arrived with several razor-sharp cuts on her body. It is believed she was cut and then traditional medicine was used but this only caused the child to be worse.

Thea pleaded with the public not to use the Jeyes Fluids or any substances that cannot be proven as able to treat snake bites.