By Edwin Cheserek

The people of Baringo County have for a long time not been accustomed to the luxury of well-equipped medical facilities.

Aware of the fact that the situation is unlikely to change any time soon, they continue to find solace in their traditional medical practices.

Ms Esther Ewoi, a traditional healer in Kapkirwok Village in Baringo North district is one of the few specialists in snakebites treatment. The 50-year-old physically challenged healer is the only ray of hope to the many victims of snake-bites in the remote area.

 She has perfected treatment of snake-bites through application of a rare healing stone popularly known as the ‘black stone.’

 She applies the stone to the fang wounds left by the snake or makes a small slit in the fang lesions to create enough space where the stone can be inserted so that it can remove the venoms and the fangs.

Rare skill

“The stone will stick to the fang lesions and sip out the venom and remove the pangs after which the patient is advised to seek anti-tetanus,” explains Ms Ewoi.

When she completes treating her patient, Ms Ewoi embarks on cleaning the stone using cold water and fresh milk then she stores it in her house  for later use.

The granny continues to puzzle many medical practitioners who are awed by the way she has excelled in treating the patients who seek her help whenever they are bitten by the roaming reptiles.

She charges an average of Sh2,000 for every treatment, which she says takes about six minutes, unlike in hospitals where the treatment takes longer.

Dr Isaiah Orerah, a medical officer at Chesongoch Mission health centre says he has not heard of the black stone  but only conversant with the  conventional treatment, which uses anti-venoms.

“The conventional treatment involves a lot of procedures where the wound is washed with sterile water and cleaned using antiseptic before injecting anti-venoms,” he explains.

He admits that many victims of snake bites have died while others have had their arms or limbs amputated because they could not access treatment immediately after the bite.

He discloses the health facility receives an average of two patients seeking treatment for snake bites every week, adding that such traditional healers need to be supported because they are of great help.

Ms Ewoi, who is  popularly referred to as Daktari Nyoka, is a household name in the entire Baringo and the neighbouring counties  thanks to her rare skill.

She has been treating victims of snakebites for the last 30 years using the single stone since her husband relocated to Mombasa with his employer to run some business.

 The granny says she learnt the science from her husband who inherited it from his employer who had hired him as a snake handler.

Her husband was employed at a snake park near Lake Baringo by Jonathan Leakey a brother to former head of Civil Service Richard Leakey.

It is at the same snake park where her husband learnt how his employer could use the stone to remove venom from the reptiles to make them harmless.

First aid

“Many victims of snakebites died because medical facilities were far away or those accessible were ill-equipped. That is why my husband decided to try the stone,” she recalls.

Her husband found out that the black stone was very efficient in treating snakebites and that is where the family started the journey of offering traditional medical services to the patients.

“Snake bites are often very serious in this area and getting anti-venom is very rare or medical assistance can be hours or even days away. I have been trying my best upon receiving a patient,” she says.

Mr David Korir, a clinical officer at Kampi ya Samaki Health Centre that serves four districts says they refer patients seeking snakebite treatments to Rift Valley Provincial General hospital in Nakuru.

“Victims of snakebites come to the facility but we cannot help much because there are no drugs to administer to them. We assist in conducting first aid and offer anti-tetanus and refer elsewhere,” he discloses.