Child dies from snakebite, renewing calls for emergency healthcare services in rural Hama

According to local residents and eyewitnesses, the victim, 12-year-old Khaled Saleh Al-Naif, was bitten by a snake while on his way to a shop in the town of Al-Ziyarah in the Al-Ghab Plain, western Hama countryside. He was rushed for medical treatment, but the long distance to the nearest healthcare facility capable of providing the necessary care, either in Al-Suqaylabiyah or Jisr al-Shughur, delayed his arrival, and he died before receiving emergency treatment.

The incident sparked renewed calls from residents of Al-Ziyarah, Qalaat al-Madiq, Al-Qarqour, and neighboring villages for the establishment of permanent, fully equipped emergency medical points to respond to urgent cases, particularly snake and scorpion bites, which become more common during the summer months. Residents warned that the lack of rapid medical response continues to put lives at risk, especially those of children and the elderly.

Residents also linked the increasing number of such incidents to deteriorating environmental conditions in the area, saying that the accumulation of rubble and inadequate public sanitation have created a suitable habitat for snakes, rodents, and venomous insects.

Residents called on municipalities and service authorities to clear rubble and carry out sanitation campaigns, along with measures to control snakes and harmful insects, while also strengthening healthcare services across the area.

Syrian health authorities have repeatedly stressed the importance of seeking immediate medical attention at the nearest healthcare facility following snake or scorpion bites and have advised against relying on traditional remedies. However, residents argue that such recommendations have limited practical value in areas lacking emergency response points or nearby health centers, where the long distance to hospitals can result in the loss of the critical time needed to save victims.

So far, neither the Ministry of Health nor Hama Governorate has announced any new measures or issued official statements in response to calls for establishing emergency medical points in the Al-Ghab Plain. Meanwhile, residents continue to urge the authorities to take immediate steps to expand healthcare coverage and improve environmental conditions in order to reduce the recurrence of such incidents.

ANHA