A new partnership to help save the lives of people bitten by venomous snakes was launched today in Port Moresby. The ‘PNG Snakebite Partnership’ is a three-year project involving the National Department of Health, the Australian Government, Seqirus Pty Ltd, and the Charles Campbell Toxinology Centre (CCTC), at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG).
The project is intended to significantly improve access to antivenoms by combining a large antivenom donation, healthcare worker training, with a purpose-built distribution and product management system.
Seqirus Pty Ltd (a subsidiary of CSL, an Australian biopharmaceutical company) will provide an annual donation of 600 vials of snake and marine creature antivenoms to PNG. This is more than triple the amount of antivenom currently purchased annually by the PNG National Department of Health and the donation is valued at more than PGK2.5 million annually.
The Australian Government will support the management of the antivenoms and training of health workers on snakebite management through a PGK 1.1million (AUD$450,000) contribution. This will be delivered by the CCTC, a collaborative partnership between the UPNG and the University of Melbourne. CCTC operates the snakebite clinic at Port Moresby General Hospital and will offer two new postgraduate Master of Medical Science scholarships to UPNG students as part of the provision of comprehensive monitoring and evaluation services and health worker training under the project.
At today’s launch, Hon. Sir Puka Temu, PNG Minister for Health and HIV said “snakebite remains a very serious public health issue in PNG affecting many hundreds of people every year, and the O’Neill government is determined to improve access to life-saving medicines. Antivenoms are very expensive to purchase and we welcome Seqirus’s decision to provide this large amount free of charge”.
Dr. Lorna Meldrum, Vice President Asia Pacific Commercial Operations of Seqirus said “we hope to significantly improve access to antivenoms. This donation should mean there will be more antivenoms, where they are needed, when they are needed”.
Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea His Excellency, Bruce Davis, said “we are delighted to welcome Seqirus as a private-sector partner in helping to realise a shared vision of enhanced health outcomes in Papua New Guinea”.
The partnership was announced today at CCTC’s laboratory at UPNG. More than 50 wild-caught and captive bred Papuan taipans and other venomous snakes are housed at CCTC so that their venom can be used for research purposes.
A first shipment of antivenom arrived in Port Moresby on 12 April and a further 140 vials are scheduled to arrive by the end of April.
The manufacture of Seqirus’ range of antivenoms is supported through funding by the Australian Government Department of Health.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100
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The delegates in front of the Serpentarium after a tour of the facility.
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Lorna Meldrum-Vice President of Seqirus (left), Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis and Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sir Puka Temu inside the Campbell Toxinology Centre laboratory.