March 20, 2024 (PAHO) –In support of the ongoing “One Health Initiative,” PANAFTOSA, in collaboration with PAHO/WHO Guyana Country Office, organized a two-day workshop focusing on Envenoming. The facilitators were Dr. Marco Vigilato, Advisor for Zoonotic Diseases at PANAFTOSA, who led this initiative alongside Dr. Jose Maria Gutierrez from the Instituto Clodomiro Picado, University of Costa Rica, and Dr. Fan Hui Wen from Instituto Butantan.
Dr. Narine Singh, the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health, pointed out the significance of this training for medical professionals in Guyana, whereas Dr. Praimnauth Tihul, Senior Veterinary Officer at GLDA, emphasized the need for a sustained multisectoral approach within the framework of the One Health Initiative.
The workshop provided healthcare professionals from various regions in Guyana with a platform to discuss improved treatment guidelines and protocols for venomous animals focus on snake bites. Dr. Fan presented a notable case management scenario involving caterpillar envenoming in Guyana.
Participants from the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority showcased two snake specimens, allowing participants to conduct examinations to a better understanding of the local species.
The mainstay of treatment for the envenoming is the timely administration of safe and effective antivenoms. During the technical visit to Guyana, the three institutions also offered support in envenoming surveillance.
According to World Health Organization, snakebite accidents cause around 2.7 million cases of poisoning and between 81,000 and 138,000 deaths worldwide each year (WHO, 2019). In the Americas, the incidence is 57,500 per year, with a fatality rate of 0.6%.
PAHO/WHO and PANAFTOSA will continue to provide support to the Ministry of Health in the area of envenoming surveillance.
