Australia has extended its partnership with Papua New Guinea (PNG) for another three years, providing snake antivenom doses and healthcare worker training to address the high localised snakebite rates in the country. This initiative aims to develop a sustainable antivenom supply capacity, reduce snakebite-related deaths, and support the PNG government in overcoming its limited stocks of snakebite antivenoms.
The PNG Snakebite Partnership involves collaboration between the Australian government, Papua New Guinea’s National Department of Health, Australian company CSL Seqirus, and St. John Ambulance PNG. CSL Seqirus has significantly increased its donation of antivenom vials to PNG, with St. John Ambulance responsible for distributing the antivenoms to healthcare clinics, training healthcare workers, and collecting data to enhance snakebite care in the country.
According to ANZ Medical Director for Vaccines and Biosecurity at CSL Seqirus, Jules Bayliss, timely access to antivenom is crucial in responding to snake envenomation. The partnership has already saved over 2,000 lives since its inception in 2018, providing antivenom doses and training to healthcare workers across various provinces in PNG.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong emphasized the importance of the partnership in addressing the significant health challenge posed by venomous creatures in the Pacific region. Snakebite accounts for a majority of ICU ventilator bed days at Port Moresby Hospital, highlighting the urgent need for improved patient outcomes in PNG.
PNG has one of the highest localised snakebite rates globally, with mortality rates surpassing those of malaria and tuberculosis in certain regions. Before the partnership, over 1,000 snakebite deaths were reported annually, with a significant portion involving children. The collaboration aims to enhance patient care, build local scientific and medical capacity, and bridge knowledge gaps in snakebite treatment in PNG.
Through this strategic partnership, Australia is committed to supporting communities in the region by sharing life-saving medicines, knowledge, and experience. The program not only aims to save lives but also to ensure the sustainability of snakebite treatment in PNG for years to come.
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