A five-year-old boy is recovering from injuries sustained after he was attacked by a jackal on Sunday.
The incident occurred at a plot in the Kubatana low-density area, commonly known as K14, in Karoi Town Council’s Ward 8.
The child was reportedly cornered by the wild animal, which chased him into a bedroom. His father, Nelson Donato (35), said they rushed to his rescue as he battled the charging jackal.
“He was trapped in a small space between the wardrobe and the bed while the jackal bit his lower lip. In defence, he tried to block it with his hand. We managed to strike it on the head, and it let him go,” Donato said.
The family is now struggling to raise money for rabies vaccinations after the boy, his father and sister were all recommended to receive post-exposure treatment.
“The boy suffered internal injuries, including two loose teeth. For now, he is surviving on soft foods. We hope he will recover soon,” Donato added.
The suspected rabies incident comes barely a week after five children were reportedly attacked by a cat in Vuti under Hurungwe Rural District Council’s Ward 4.
Health stakeholders have since intensified awareness campaigns on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which affect many people and often result in devastating and sometimes irreversible health outcomes.
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Hurungwe District health promotion officer Komborero Gotosa said NTDs continue to receive limited support and attention, disproportionately affecting the poorest communities.
“NTDs are also responsible for stigmatisation, social exclusion, disability and discrimination, and they place considerable strain on both patients and their families,” said Gotosa.
The most common NTDs in Hurungwe District include schistosomiasis (SCH), soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), lymphatic filariasis (LF), snakebites, African sleeping sickness, anthrax and rabies.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one billion people globally are affected by NTDs, while an estimated 1.495 billion people require preventive and curative interventions. In Zimbabwe, nearly 20 percent of the population is affected by NTDs.
