Kenya is establishing a Sh1.8 billion anti-snake venom processing plant in the next three years to mitigate the dangerous effects of snakebites, especially in high-burden areas such as Kitui County, which has the second highest number of victims in the country.
According to the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, the facility will be located at the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (Kipre) in Karen, Nairobi, and aims to produce locally effective antivenoms through international technology transfer.
This will involve partnerships with experienced international institutions to acquire the knowledge, tools and protocols necessary for local antivenom production.
This process will include training Kenyan scientists and technicians, equipping laboratories, and adapting production methods to ensure the antivenoms are effective against local snake species.
"Snakebite is classified by the World Health Organisation as a neglected tropical disease. Therefore, Kipre proposes to establish an antivenom processing facility through technology transfer over the next three years," said Mary Muthoni, Principal Secretary for Health.
"The total cost of the project is Sh1.8 billion, which will be implemented over three years, with an annual budget allocation of Sh608 million."
According to Kipre, about 20,000 people are bitten by snakes every year. Of these, around 4,000 die, while another 7,000 suffer long-term complications such as paralysis and tissue damage.
The Kenya Snakebite Research and Intervention Centre (KSRIC), further points out that an estimated 60 percent of victims never seek hospital treatment, instead relying on traditional remedies that are often ineffective, making the situation worse.
This initiative is part of Kenya's goal to become a regional hub for snakebite treatment, with the potential to provide affordable and effective antivenoms across East Africa.
Currently, Kenya relies heavily on imported antivenoms, mainly from Mexico and India. However, up to 50 percent of these antivenoms are reportedly ineffective due to differences in snake species - antivenoms are region-specific and may not neutralise venom from snakes found in different geographical areas.
Although public hospitals are supposed to provide antivenoms free of charge or at subsidised prices, frequent stock-outs often mean that patients are referred to private pharmacies, where the price per vial ranges from Sh6,000 to Sh13,000, putting life-saving treatment out of reach for many low-income families in snakebite prone regions.
According to Delivery Pharmacy, an online drug store, a 10ml vial of antivenom costs around Sh6,600. Most patients require between four and ten vials, bringing the total cost of treatment up to Sh66,000.
