Snakebites Kill More People Annually And It Is The Poor Who Die – Kofi Annan

According to statistics, between 81,000 and 138,000 people lose their lives every year as a result of snake bites.

Furthermore, according to former United Nations Secretary-General, snakebite is currently the biggest health crisis plaguing the world. Moreover, in an article he addressed the disturbing statistics. Also, he expressed concern at the alarming rate of death by snakebites globally.

Kofi Annan on the snakebite phenomenon

“A few years ago, a local doctor in Ghana drew my wife Nane’s and my attention to the devastating impact that snakebites had on his community. We were shocked to learn that snakebite kills between 81,000 and 138,000 people globally every year, with many more suffering lasting mental and physical impairments. By comparison, the mosquito-borne Dengue fever claims roughly 20,000 lives annually worldwide. Despite its huge impact, snakebite is the biggest public health crisis you have likely never heard of. To date, it has been largely overlooked.

“Snakebite is essentially a disease of the poor. It mostly affects populations living in some of the poorest, most rural communities of Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Oceania and Latin America. Smallholder farmers, their families, herdsmen, and displaced peoples are particularly vulnerable. These groups often lack even the most basic protections such as snake-proof footwear or bed nets.

“Once bitten, even if the victim survives, he or she may be unable to provide for their family. The knock-on effects are felt by children who must work instead of going to school. Or by relatives who need to share their limited resources to help care for the affected family.

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“In many remote areas, a lack of transportation and poor roads hamper the prompt treatment of snakebite victims. Even when victims reach a hospital, they may find that there are no trained staff or the right equipment to treat them. These chronic challenges are compounded by the shortage of safe, effective, and affordable antivenom in regions of the world where the risk of snakebites is endemic. The decision of some manufacturers in recent years to cease production altogether and the simultaneous spread of poor quality anti-venoms has worsened the problem.

“I strongly believe that snakebite envenoming poses a serious public health challenge. But it is a challenge that can be surmounted. This is a forgotten crisis, and we need to take immediate, robust, and sustained action to confront it. We can save lives of thousands of fellow humans by working together to tackle snakebite.”