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WHO / SNAKEBITE ENVENOMING CONTROL
STORY: WHO / SNAKEBITE ENVENOMING CONTROL
TRT: 2:38
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 MAY 2019, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Aerial shot, WHO headquarters exterior
23 MAY 2019, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Close up, snakebite envenoming report
3. Wide shot, Malecela on stage
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization:
“Snakebite matters because it is really a terrible problem that kills 80,000 to 138,000 people per year.”
5. Med shot, attendees
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization:
“It’s been a hidden problem because it’s a problem of neglected populations. It’s a problem of people living in very remote areas, people without access to quick transportation that can get them to places where they can get the antivenom.”
7. Pan right, attendees
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization:
“The community needs to be more aware of snakebites and needs to know what to do- first of all simple things like wearing shoes etc. And then if they do get bitten, what needs to happen then? The health system needs to be empowered to deal with snakebites.”
9. Wide shot, attendees
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization:
“In many places there is no antivenom. So, people are bitten, and they do not have any access to anything except going to a traditional healer and then they finally, many times after that, die. And [they] die a slow and painful death.”
11. Wide shot, attendee
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization:
“There were groups producing antivenom in the past. But then the motivation to produce it, given the market base, made it impossible for them to continue doing so.”
13. Tilt down, snake and antivenom on screen to atendees
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization:
“We try and avoid snakebites as much as we can, by shoes, by clothing etc. but when the person is bitten I think that is when really need to be there and able to take action; and not be out of stock of antivenoms like we currently are.”
15. Close up, flipping through snakebite envenoming report
16. Close up, speaking at event
17. Wide shot, attendees clapping
A Senior official at the World Health Organization (WHO) said snakebites are a “terrible problem” that kill 80,000 to 138,000 people per year adding that the issue has been "a hidden problem because it’s a problem of neglected populations.”
Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director of Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases at WHO said snakebites are a problem for people living “in very remote areas, people without access to quick transportation that can get them to places where they can get the antivenom.”
WHO had released on Thursday (23 May) full details of its strategy to prevent and control snakebite envenoming. The aim is to halve the numbers of deaths and cases of disability due to snakebite envenoming over the next 12 years through a programme that targets affected communities and their health systems, and by ensuring access to safe, effective treatment through increased cooperation, collaboration and partnership at all levels.
Malecela said communities needs to be more aware of snakebites and needs to know what to do adding that health systems need “to be empowered to deal with snakebites.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization:
“In many places there is no antivenom. So, people are bitten, and they do not have any access to anything except going to a traditional healer and then they finally, many times after that, die. And [they] die a slow and painful death.”
WHO said a central objective would be the need to ensure access to safe, effective and affordable treatment such as anti-venoms and ancillary medical care. It added that improved and strengthened production, supply and distribution of life-saving antivenoms and other commodities needed to treat snakebites would be prioritized.
SOUNDBITE (English) Mwelecele Ntuli Malecela, Director, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization:
“There were groups producing antivenom in the past. But then the motivation to produce it, given the market base, made it impossible for them to continue doing so.”
The WHO Director said, “We try and avoid snakebites as much as we can, by shoes, by clothing etc. but when the person is bitten I think that is when really need to be there and able to take action and not be out of stock of antivenoms like we currently are.”
WHO said it would also work to encourage research on new treatments, diagnostics and health device breakthroughs that can improve treatment outcomes for victims and hasten recovery.
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