Kenya joins global fight against snake envenoming

Kenya has joined the Global Snake Task Force that seeks to address the rising issue of snake envenoming.

As part of this initiative, the country will highlight this neglected health crisis and reduce cases of snakebites, one of the world’s deadliest yet most overlooked health issues.

The task force was established during the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, co-chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, and Elhadj As Sy, Chancellor of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Duale explained that, similar to many other countries, snakebite envenoming is a significant problem for Kenya, particularly impacting rural communities and affecting children the most.

“After years of snakebite being overlooked, successfully placing this issue on the official WHA agenda for the first time this decade is a significant milestone and demonstrates Kenya's commitment to addressing this avoidable health challenge,” Duale stated.

He emphasised that by prioritising snakebite on the global agenda, the task force advocates for health, safety, and livelihoods while setting a precedent for other nations to take action.

“This marks the beginning of a new chapter in international collaboration to ensure that no more lives are lost to this preventable health challenge.”

Snakebite is one of the world’s deadliest yet most neglected tropical diseases. The World Health Organisation estimates that someone dies from a snakebite every five minutes globally, with many others suffering severe injuries or amputations.

The task force aims to raise the visibility of the snake envenoming issue on the global stage and catalyse resources for treatments and interventions that can prevent snakebite-related deaths and disabilities.

Dr Patrick Amoth, the Director General for Health, stated that putting snakebite envenoming on the global agenda is a significant milestone in addressing a challenge that affects many people in Africa.

“Across the African continent, it is estimated that between 435,000 and 580,000 people are envenomed each year, leading to disability, life-changing injuries, and death. With snakebite now officially back on the WHA agenda, we have a crucial opportunity to unite and galvanise global action,” said Dr Amoth.

Elhadj As Sy, Co-Chair of the Global Snakebite Taskforce, noted that while the risk of snakebites may seem remote to many global leaders, the devastating and preventable human toll cannot be ignored.

“This is a solvable challenge and one of the most cost-effective global health issues to tackle, with a real possibility of eliminating this suffering. We already have many of the tools needed to save lives and livelihoods, but we urgently require political will, momentum, and funding,” he stated.