The World Health Organization (WHO) calls on snake bites “the biggest hidden health crisis in the world”. Indeed, every 4 minutes in the world, a person dies from the consequences of a snakebite, mainly in the poorest countries of Africa, Asia and South America. And 400,000 people suffer from a permanent disability (amputation, paralysis of a limb, kidney or liver failure).
Halve the number of deaths
This is why the WHO wants to launch a plan to reduce by half by 2030 the number of deaths and disabilities caused by snakebites. For the WHO, the solution lies in 3 points:
- improve the global supply of antivenoms
- train health workers to respond quickly to snakebites
- teach people how to better prevent snakebites.
“One of the central objectives will be to ensure access to safe, effective and affordable treatments such as antivenoms and ancillary medical care. The production, supply and distribution of antivenoms and other products necessary for the treatment of snakebites, essential for survival, will be reinforced” explains the WHO.
The details of this strategy will be presented at a general assembly of the World Organization on May 23 in Geneva.
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