Lives are already being saved thanks to the Papua New Guinea Snakebite Partnership, supported by Rotary.
A 4-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy are among the survivors.
Last year, the partnership delivered 497 vials of antivenom to 40 health facilities across 14 provinces, trained 887 health workers across 13 provinces and visited 52 health facilities.
A ventilator was also provided, which has been used more than 25 times for snakebite victims.
Snakebite: The United Nations calls snakebite the most significant tropical disease never discussed as a health issue. Snakes strike 2.7 million victims every year in the world’s most remote, poorly developed and marginalised tropical communities. Annual mortality is estimated at 140,000, and 400,000 survivors suffer permanent physical and psychological disability.
In 2024, the Papua New Guinea Snakebite Partnership, supported by Rotary, delivered 497 vials of antivenom to 40 health facilities across 14 provinces, trained 887 health workers across 13 provinces and visited 52 health facilities.Among those whose lives were saved were a 4-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy, both bitten by taipans.
The 4-year-old was taken to Kwikila Hospital, about 100km south-east of Port Moresby, where she received antivenom, was intubated and ventilated, and later transferred to Port Moresby. Remarkably, she was discharged just four days later, walking out of the hospital.
Rotary District 9620, specifically RC Port Moresby Board, has already donated A$140,000 to St John Ambulance PNG. They now seek additional funding from Clubs and corporations for the Provision of additional cold chain monitors and eskies to ensure antivenom is kept at a temperature-controlled range of 2-8°c in transit to treatment sites.
More remote health facilities lack the proper means to maintain these conditions, risking spoiled antivenom that is useless in emergencies.
A ventilator is part of the treatment, and Dr Peter Rogers, Rotary South Pacific board member, said, “I can confirm that the ventilator has been used 25 times for snakebite patients alone, facilitating transfers between regional health facilities and Port Moresby.
The ventilator has also been used on several occasions for critically ill patients.
Partners: RC Port Morseby, PNG and RC Melbourne, Australia.