(YEI) – Residents and local officials in Tore Payam, Yei River County, are raising alarm over a recent increase in snakebite cases, made worse by the continued lack of access to medical treatment in the area. At least three Ambororo pastoralists were reportedly bitten by snakes in recent days, resulting in one fatality.
According to Mr Abdullah Magi, Chairperson of the Business Union in Tore Payam, a 31 year old man identified as Mr Essen died after being bitten by a snake. Despite efforts to treat him using local herbal remedies, his condition deteriorated rapidly and he could not be transported in time to receive medical help at the nearest health centre.
The two other snakebite victims were taken to Dakundu-Olo Primary Health Care Unit in Rasulo Town, where they are reportedly responding well to treatment.
Mr Magi noted that timely medical intervention remains a major challenge in remote communities like Tore Payam. Poor roads, lack of transportation, and low awareness about the urgency of treating snakebites all contribute to delayed responses. He also highlighted the absence of antivenom in the area, which makes effective treatment difficult even when victims reach health centres.
Mr Jackson Sebit, Director of Tore Payam, confirmed the burial of the deceased pastoralist at the Payam Centre and echoed calls for urgent support from Yei County health authorities. He emphasised the urgent need to supply antivenom to health facilities in the area to prevent further fatalities.
The recent death comes just weeks after residents in Tore Payam voiced concerns over the continued closure of their only health centre. On 2 July 2025, community members said they had been without access to medical services for more than six months following the shutdown of Tore Primary Health Care Centre.
The clinic, which had previously been managed by the South Sudan Health Association (SSUHA) under support from the Health Pool Fund (HPF), closed in December 2024 when the HPF withdrew and handed over control to local authorities. Since then, the health centre has remained non-operational, with medical staff abandoning the facility.
With no functioning clinic in the area, residents have turned to traditional medicine to treat a range of illnesses, including snakebites, malaria, and typhoid. This reliance on herbs and roots, while helpful in some cases, is often insufficient in life threatening situations such as snake envenomation.