Kenya Launches African Snakebite Alliance to Combat Envenoming

Summary:

• The Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Kenya Institute of Primate Research, has launched the African Snakebite Alliance (ASA) to address snakebite envenoming in Africa. ASA aims to develop tailored vaccines and improve management policies, with a collaborative effort involving multiple countries and organizations.

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KAKAMEGA, Kenya, March 14, 2024 — The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE), has introduced the African Snakebite Alliance (ASA), joining forces with Kenya, Eswatini, Ghana, Malawi, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom. ASA’s primary objective is to tackle snakebite envenoming (SBE) in Africa through locally adapted solutions.

With an annual expenditure of approximately one billion shillings by the Ministry of Health on snakebite treatment, ASA aims to formulate vaccines specific to each region and enhance policies and practices for managing snakebites.

This initiative signifies a collective endeavor involving Ministries of Health, local stakeholders, international organizations, and donor partners to develop strategies and allocate resources towards addressing SBE in Africa.

Participating organizations include the Kenya Institute of Primate Research, the World Health Organization Kenya, the World Health Organization (WHO), Amref Health Africa in Kenya, the Rwanda Biomedical Center, and the Eswatini Antivenom Foundation.

The launch represents a collaborative effort among Ministries of Health, local stakeholders, international organizations, and donor partners to devise strategies and allocate resources for addressing SBE in Africa

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