Funsi, UWR, Oct.21, GNA - The frequency of snake bites has increased in the Wa East District, raising serious concerns among rural farmers in the area.

The period between the rainy and harmattan seasons in this part of the region brings about increases in the snake population and farmers are always at risk of their attacks when harvesting their crops and also travelling on foot at night. Madam Fati Bapene, who recently had her buttocks bitten by an irritated snake while she was attending to nature's call in the bush blamed the Wa East District Assembly for not providing toilets to keep the people safe from snake bites.

Narrating her ordeal to the GNA at Funsi, she said she had a running stomach and went into the bush to "free herself". While undressing, she unknowingly stepped on a snake which struck when she was naked and squatting.

Funsi, the district capital has a population of about 7000 and has only one pit latrine that serves the sanitary needs of 1000 people while the remaining 6000 people resort to "free range". An average of four to five people are bitten by snakes daily around their places of residence where they normally "free range" because of inadequate toilet facilities.

Mr. Tongu Togdia, a farmer who was bitten by a snake last week, told the GNA that he and many other victims could not go to the health centre for medical treatment for lack of health insurance coverage and had to be treated locally. 22 Oct. 09