— relatives of snake-bite victim

AS the relatives of Leslie Valentine Seymour bury their dead, a call has been issued for Ministry of Public Health to have anti-venom injections available at health centres across the country.

Seymour’s Aunt, Yvonne Gudge expressed disappointment over the unavailability of the anti-venom drug, which should have been accessible, as Guyana is home to several venomous snakes, including labaria, the snake which bit her nephew.

“Leslie should not have died because of the unavailability of the anti-venom. All health outposts, particularly in the hinterland areas, should be equipped with the drug which must be administered within three hours of the bite.

“Leslie’s death must bring about a change. No other person must die because of the lack of the anti-venom. This is an agricultural-based country and this country was recently recognised as the number one eco-tourist state. Such recognition will bring hundreds, if not thousands, of tourists to this country. And when they come and are bitten by one of the venomous snakes, will they also die because of the unavailability of the anti-venom?” the British-trained health official asked.

She added: “I am issuing a call to the government to ensure that anti-venom medications are available at all health posts, so that another life will not be lost because of its unavailability.”

Last Friday, Seymour, 50, was cultivating his cabbage plot at Baramani, North West District, when he was bitten on his thumb by a labaria.

His reputed wife Dianne Henry, who witnessed the incident, immediately evoked traditional Amerindian treatment for snake bites, before assisting him in a canoe, and paddled some 40 miles to Moruca to seek medical attention.

When they reached the Moruca Hospital, there was no anti-venom medicine and they subsequently travelled to the Kumaka Regional Hospital but there was none there either.

Henry paddled to the Oscar Joseph District Hospital at Charity, Essequibo Coast, where she arrived on Saturday at sunset, and again no treatment was available.

Seymour, who was unconscious at the time, was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

He was buried on Saturday, at his hometown, Queenstown Village, Essequibo Coast.