Global Snake Bite Initiative

This important project is the first major undertaking resulting from the Global Issues in Clinical Toxinology Conference, which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in November 2008.

At this meeting, attended by stakeholders from all continents (except Antarctica), a steering committee was formed to move towards developing practical and sustainable solutions to some of the problems associated with snake bite worldwide. Some of these challenges include improving access to medical care and life-saving antivenoms, providing training for rural health workers and doctors, improving the quality of data on the burden of snake bite, developing partnerships to help snake bite victims with temporary or permanent disabilities, and encouraging governments, public health organizations and donors to recognize the role that snake bite plays in perpetuating poverty in the developing world.

It was considered by this meeting, attended by some senior members of the International Society on Toxinology (IST), that this process would best be promoted by close association with the IST, as a project under the IST banner. At the Asia-Pacific Section Congress in Vietnam in December 2008, a proposal was made by Prof. David Warrell, seconded by Prof. Ponnampalam Gopalakrishnakone (IST President), that “The Global Snake Bite Initiative be formally endorsed as an official initiative of the IST.” This was passed unanimously and then confirmed unanimously at the IST World Congress in Recife, Brazil, March 2009. This important initiative is now officially a project of the IST.

The Steering Committee, which contains a number of IST are now in the process of developing a work plan and timeline to present to all IST members. Key among planned activities are proposals to develop a number of position statements on aspects of the treatment of snake bite, including first aid, and the management of local tissue injuries. The Committee are also exploring a number of other projects, and are developing key contacts with other organizations who may be able to assist in moving projects forward from planning to implementation.