CEBU CITY – An environmental lawyer has highlighted the need for the province of Bohol to have an efficient anti-venom supply after a three-year-old girl died due to cobra bites.

Atty. Jordan Pizarras said district hospitals in Bohol must undertake immediate stocking of anti-venom to prevent future fatalities.

ATTY. Jordan Pizarras (left) visits the family of a three-year-old girl who died from a cobra bite in Loon town, Bohol province. (Contributed photo)

"The death of a child is a tragedy that should not happen again. While cobras play an important role in controlling the rat population, we must prioritize protecting human lives. We need a balance – conserving wildlife while ensuring that our hospitals are equipped to save lives when snake bites occur," said Pizarras, a congressional candidate in the first district of Bohol.

The tragic incident happened in Barangay Bagakay Kawayan, Loon town, Bohol last week.

The child, bitten by a cobra, was not immediately taken to the Loon District Hospital but was first treated by a local “mananambal” or folk healer.

By then, paralysis had set in and the girl was declared dead on arrival in the hospital.

Dr. Fruserma Mary Uy, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), emphasized the need for rapid medical intervention in cases like these.

"In snake bites, time is of the essence. Delays, especially due to seeking alternative treatments, often cost lives," Uy said.

Currently, anti-venom is only stocked at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City which is far from some of Bohol’s rural areas.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado has responded to the call for wider access by instructing the PHO to stock anti-venom in strategic locations, including Tubigon, Loon, Talibon, Ubay, and Jagna.

Pizarras, who visited the wake of the young victim, strongly supported this initiative, advocating for a balance between the preservation of the cobra, which plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance by preying on rodents, and ensuring public safety.

"Cobras help control the rat population, which benefits the agricultural sector. But our first responsibility is to human life. We need to ensure that anti-venom is accessible in every corner of Bohol to prevent such tragedies," he said.