More than a hundred thousand people die from snakebites in rural communities every year, and many more end up with amputations and other disabilities. An important factor is a shortage of antivenom and storage facilities with reliable electricity, as well as a lack of money and a fear of Western medicine.
In 2017, the WHO added snakebite envenomation to its list of neglected tropical diseases, and in 2019 announced a slashing in the number of deaths and disabilities from envenomation by 2030. Not only is it difficult for rural residents to get to a hospital, but the hospital is often too expensive or doesn't have enough equipment and expertise to treat the wound.
"Once the victim is at a treatment center, survival depends on two vital points: Is a reliable antivenom available? And if so, does the medical staff know how to administer it? Often in sub-Saharan Africa the answer to both is no."
