Snake bite victim refutes cheating rumours

Elizabeth Joseph, whose left arm and left leg were amputated after a snake bite, has refuted rumours that she was sleeping with a married man.

After Namibian Sun reported Joseph’s story last month, villagers said she had an affair with a married man and that the man’s wife sent a snake to strike her.

Joseph – who this week told Namibian Sun she was bitten by a snake not once, but twice – admitted that she’d heard about the rumours, but denied them, stating that she has never slept with someone else’s husband.

“I do not know why people are saying such things, but only God knows why I am going through this and what really happened to me,” she said.

The mother of four said she suffers from debilitating pain, while her remaining leg is swollen and bruised.

Worse

The 43-year-old, who received significant attention after her story was published, said her situation has worsened and that she is in dire need of medical attention.

“The pain has gotten worse. It feels like I have bugs in my leg,” she said.

She added that local state hospitals have not been of any assistance as she constantly gets sent home with no solution.

“The doctors do not want to treat me any more; they always send me home when I go to the hospital complaining about pain,” she said.

Joseph’s situation could also not be solved by a local pastor who visited her homestead on two separate occasions, she narrated.

She is pleading for assistance from Good Samaritans for funds to enable her to see a private doctor.

Last month, Ohangwena Region health director John Hango said he was unable to comment on Joseph’s case, as only extremely rare specialists can provide information on what occurs in a person's body following a snake bite.