Baby dies from snake bites

AN eight-month-old baby died when she was bitten by a snake which she had picked and put in her mouth in Binga last week.

The baby, Ability Ndlovu of Mabula Village, Chief Siansali, was bitten twice, on the mouth and on the hand by the snake.

The incident occurred when the baby was seated under a tree where four other minors were playing. Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm receiving a report about an eight-month-old baby who died after she was bitten twice by a snake. While they were playing, a snake identified by a witnesses as a puff adder slithered towards the baby who picked it with her own hands and placed it on her mouth. The irritated snake bit her once on the hand and once on the mouth during the process. When one of the children, a four-year-old, noticed that the now deceased baby had a snake in her mouth, he pulled the snake by the tail and threw it on the ground. The children screamed for help,” she said.

Miss Sibongile Mudenda, the baby’s mother and a relative, Mrs Beritha Mleya rushed to the scene and immediately killed the snake with a log. Chief Insp Makonese said Mudenda quickly breastfed the baby who was screaming in pain, probably due to the pain she was in.

“The two women rushed to their grandmother to seek traditional medicine to cure the baby. The baby failed to get medical treatment on time due to the distance to the nearest clinic and unfortunately she passed on,” she said.

Chief Insp Makonese encouraged members of the public to immediately seek medical assistance when bitten by snakes.

She also warned parents to always keep an eye on children when they are outside.

@winnie_masara