Fire and Rescue International
  • Home
  • Magazines
    • Featured Article
    • FRI Magazine
    • DMJ Magazine
  • Newsletters
    • 13 June 2025
    • 7 June 2025
    • 30 May 2025
    • 23 May 2025
    • 16 May 2025
    • 9 May 2025
    • 2 May 2025
    • 25 April 2025
    • 11 April 2025
    • 4 April 2025
    • 21 March 2025
    • 14 March 2025
    • 7 March 2025
    • 28 February 2025
    • 14 February 2025
    • 7 February 2025
    • 31 January 2025
    • 24 January 2025
    • 17 January 2025
    • 10 January 2025
    • 20 December 2024
    • 13 December 2024
    • 6 December 2024
  • Advertising
    • Fire and Rescue International
    • Disaster Management
    • FRI Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Articles
  • Galleries
    • DMISA 2024
    • NMU Fire Symposium 2024
    • ETS 2024 Gallery
    • WFFG Denmark 2024
    • TFA 2024 Gallery
    • Electra Mining 2024
    • Drager Challenge 2024
    • AOSH Firexpo 2024
    • Midvaal Fit to Fight Fire 2024
    • WoF KNP 2023 Gallery
    • TFA 2023 Gallery
    • DMISA Conference 2023
    • ETS 2023 Gallery
      • ETS 2023 Main Scenario
      • ETS 2023 Second Scenario
      • ETS 2023 Third Scenario
      • ETS 2023 Marching
      • ETS 2023 Exhibitors Demonstrations
      • ETS 2023 Prize Giving
      • ETS 2023 Team Photos
      • ETS 2023 General Photos
    • Drager Fire Combat and Rescue Challenge 2023
      • Presentation
      • Tower Challenge
      • Mobile Training Challenge
      • Fitness Challenge
      • General
      • Group
      • Prize Giving
    • AOSH Firexpo 2023
    • Midvaal Fit to Fight Fire
      • Midvaal Challenge
      • Midvaal General Photos
      • Midvaal Team Photos
      • Midvaal Prize Giving
    • WC IFFD 2023
    • NMU 13th Fire Management Symposium 2022
    • JOIFF Africa Conference 2022
    • ETS 2022 Gallery
      • ETS 2022 Main Scenario
      • ETS 2022 Fire Fighter Challenge
      • ETS 2022 Skills Event
      • ETS 2022 Exhibitors/demonstrations
      • ETS 2022 Team Photos
      • ETS 2022 General Photos
      • ETS 2022 Awards Ceremony
    • TFA 2022 Gallery
      • TFA 2022 Main Gallery
      • TFA 2022 Group Gallery
      • TFA 2022 Mini TFA
      • TFA 2022 Awards Gallery
    • IFFD 2018
      • Western Cape
    • SAESI
    • TFA
      • TFA 2018
      • TFA 2019
        • TFA 2019 Start
        • TFA 2019 Stage 1
        • TFA 2019 Stage 2
        • TFA 2019 Stage 3
        • TFA 2019 Awards
        • TFA 2019 General
        • TFA 2019 Group
    • WRC 2018
    • WRC 2019
    • A-OSH/Securex
    • IFE AGM 2019
    • ETS Ind Fire Comp Nov 2019
    • ETS Challenge 2021
    • Drager launch
    • Drager Fire Combat and Rescue Challenge 2022
  • TFA
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Magazines
    • Featured Article
    • FRI Magazine
    • DMJ Magazine
  • Newsletters
    • 13 June 2025
    • 7 June 2025
    • 30 May 2025
    • 23 May 2025
    • 16 May 2025
    • 9 May 2025
    • 2 May 2025
    • 25 April 2025
    • 11 April 2025
    • 4 April 2025
    • 21 March 2025
    • 14 March 2025
    • 7 March 2025
    • 28 February 2025
    • 14 February 2025
    • 7 February 2025
    • 31 January 2025
    • 24 January 2025
    • 17 January 2025
    • 10 January 2025
    • 20 December 2024
    • 13 December 2024
    • 6 December 2024
  • Advertising
    • Fire and Rescue International
    • Disaster Management
    • FRI Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Articles
  • Galleries
    • DMISA 2024
    • NMU Fire Symposium 2024
    • ETS 2024 Gallery
    • WFFG Denmark 2024
    • TFA 2024 Gallery
    • Electra Mining 2024
    • Drager Challenge 2024
    • AOSH Firexpo 2024
    • Midvaal Fit to Fight Fire 2024
    • WoF KNP 2023 Gallery
    • TFA 2023 Gallery
    • DMISA Conference 2023
    • ETS 2023 Gallery
      • ETS 2023 Main Scenario
      • ETS 2023 Second Scenario
      • ETS 2023 Third Scenario
      • ETS 2023 Marching
      • ETS 2023 Exhibitors Demonstrations
      • ETS 2023 Prize Giving
      • ETS 2023 Team Photos
      • ETS 2023 General Photos
    • Drager Fire Combat and Rescue Challenge 2023
      • Presentation
      • Tower Challenge
      • Mobile Training Challenge
      • Fitness Challenge
      • General
      • Group
      • Prize Giving
    • AOSH Firexpo 2023
    • Midvaal Fit to Fight Fire
      • Midvaal Challenge
      • Midvaal General Photos
      • Midvaal Team Photos
      • Midvaal Prize Giving
    • WC IFFD 2023
    • NMU 13th Fire Management Symposium 2022
    • JOIFF Africa Conference 2022
    • ETS 2022 Gallery
      • ETS 2022 Main Scenario
      • ETS 2022 Fire Fighter Challenge
      • ETS 2022 Skills Event
      • ETS 2022 Exhibitors/demonstrations
      • ETS 2022 Team Photos
      • ETS 2022 General Photos
      • ETS 2022 Awards Ceremony
    • TFA 2022 Gallery
      • TFA 2022 Main Gallery
      • TFA 2022 Group Gallery
      • TFA 2022 Mini TFA
      • TFA 2022 Awards Gallery
    • IFFD 2018
      • Western Cape
    • SAESI
    • TFA
      • TFA 2018
      • TFA 2019
        • TFA 2019 Start
        • TFA 2019 Stage 1
        • TFA 2019 Stage 2
        • TFA 2019 Stage 3
        • TFA 2019 Awards
        • TFA 2019 General
        • TFA 2019 Group
    • WRC 2018
    • WRC 2019
    • A-OSH/Securex
    • IFE AGM 2019
    • ETS Ind Fire Comp Nov 2019
    • ETS Challenge 2021
    • Drager launch
    • Drager Fire Combat and Rescue Challenge 2022
  • TFA
  • Contact
Search

Proudly serving those who serve

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

6 April 2023
Back to newsletter​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Urgent intervention called for to alleviate crisis in management and care of snakebite victims 

Picture
Picture
​In a bid to save life and limb, medical and trauma practitioners in the public and private sectors have called for the intervention of The Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla to alleviate the critical shortage of antivenom in South Africa and on the African continent. An open letter has been signed by 27 experts in the field of snakebite treatment including highly experienced medical and trauma practitioners as well as anti-venom and snake handling experts. The letter calls for the prevention of a situation where life-saving care can no longer be provided to patients in need of healthcare assistance for snakebites.
 
“Antivenom is a critical life-saving treatment in patients bitten by venomous snakes and has excellent outcomes when used timeously and correctly,” says trauma surgeon Professor Timothy Hardcastle, who is a member of The National Snakebite Advisory Group (NSAG) and the Trauma Society of South Africa.
 
NSAG offers a free national advisory support service to medical personnel, clinicians and centres in both the public and private sectors who may need to treat snakebite victims. Since 2017 the Group and its affiliated members have actively educated the public and healthcare professionals to facilitate the appropriate management of snakebites in southern Africa.
 
Commenting on the current situation, Professor Hardcastle said that the main source of reliable cost-effective antivenom against the common major venomous snakes in South Africa and other parts of the continent is the SAVP group of products, namely the 10-snake polyvalent, the Echis monovalent and the Boomslang monovalent antivenoms.
 
“Unfortunately, there is no suitable alternative product approved for use in South Africa, even under Section 21. At present our greatest concern and challenge is the unreliable production of the South African Vaccine Producers’ products due to management, staffing constraints, animal welfare, unreliable generator capacity, machine breakdowns and refrigeration issues.”
 
“There has been a promise of product since December 2022, however, more than four months have passed and at present extremely limited numbers of polyvalent vials are left in the South African Vaccine Producers stores, while a large backlog of orders have yet to be filled. Certain public and private hospitals – many of which are situated in high snakebite areas – have already run out of stock while others have preciously little antivenom on hand. There is also a shortage of antivenom among veterinarians who are currently unable to acquire any antivenom. There is no sign that these will be replenished anytime soon.”
 
“There is a serious risk of death from Black and Green Mamba, Cape Cobra and limb loss from other venomous snakes. While Boomslang bites are less common they require a specific antivenom. In particular, children are at high risk of poor outcomes. Patient medical management, hospital length of stay, morbidity and mortality are all adversely affected without early and appropriate administration of antivenom, an essential component in the clinical management of snakebites over the last few decades. The inability and lack of expected delivery of antivenom therefore pose a major health risk, despite it being a listed drug on the Essential Drug List,” adds Professor Hardcastle.
 
The appeal from the NSAG to The Minister of Health is to intervene by funding and approving emergency upgrades to allow improved functionality at the Johannesburg based South African Vaccine Producers (SAVP) production plant. The group of signatories have also implored Minister Phaahla to ensure that the procurement processes are effectively and compliantly performed so that appropriate equipment, backup generators, reagents and other essential production items can be procured to significantly improve production that will ensure a sufficient volume of antivenom to restock the country.
 
An investigation of the outsourcing of production to recently built drug production operations established in other parts of the country, as a longer-term solution, was also mooted. In addition, the potential identification of alternative products covering South African snakes could be tested to provide another option until the current antivenom shortage is resolved.
 
“It is furthermore imperative that an information campaign be launched to warn the public to be careful when in the natural environment and to take the necessary precautionary measures. We as the National Snakebite Advisory group and the leaders of Emergency Medicine, Trauma Surgery and Critical care across South Africa implore The Minister to act before lives and limbs are lost,” cautions Professor Hardcastle.
 
Dr Hardcastle concluded by saying that while the NSAG service is only directly available to healthcare practitioners and facilities, there are several resources available to the public. These include the Poison Information Centre and the African Snakebite Institute, which offers a special free information app from their website: https://www.africansnakebiteinstitute.com/app/.
 
Source: National Snakebite Advisory Group (NSAG)

Back to newsletter​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Quick navigation

  • Home
  • FRI magazine
  • DMJ magazine
  • Articles
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Social

Who are we?

FRI Media (Pty) Ltd is an independent publisher of technical magazines including the well-read and respected Fire and Rescue International, its weekly FRI Newsletter and the Disaster Management Journal. We also offer a complete marketing and publishing package, which include design, printing and corporate wear and gifts.

Weekly FRI Newsletter

Subscribe to the newsletter free of charge!
© Copyright 2025 Fire and Rescue International. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Magazines
    • Featured Article
    • FRI Magazine
    • DMJ Magazine
  • Newsletters
    • 13 June 2025
    • 7 June 2025
    • 30 May 2025
    • 23 May 2025
    • 16 May 2025
    • 9 May 2025
    • 2 May 2025
    • 25 April 2025
    • 11 April 2025
    • 4 April 2025
    • 21 March 2025
    • 14 March 2025
    • 7 March 2025
    • 28 February 2025
    • 14 February 2025
    • 7 February 2025
    • 31 January 2025
    • 24 January 2025
    • 17 January 2025
    • 10 January 2025
    • 20 December 2024
    • 13 December 2024
    • 6 December 2024
  • Advertising
    • Fire and Rescue International
    • Disaster Management
    • FRI Newsletter
  • Subscribe
  • Articles
  • Galleries
    • DMISA 2024
    • NMU Fire Symposium 2024
    • ETS 2024 Gallery
    • WFFG Denmark 2024
    • TFA 2024 Gallery
    • Electra Mining 2024
    • Drager Challenge 2024
    • AOSH Firexpo 2024
    • Midvaal Fit to Fight Fire 2024
    • WoF KNP 2023 Gallery
    • TFA 2023 Gallery
    • DMISA Conference 2023
    • ETS 2023 Gallery
      • ETS 2023 Main Scenario
      • ETS 2023 Second Scenario
      • ETS 2023 Third Scenario
      • ETS 2023 Marching
      • ETS 2023 Exhibitors Demonstrations
      • ETS 2023 Prize Giving
      • ETS 2023 Team Photos
      • ETS 2023 General Photos
    • Drager Fire Combat and Rescue Challenge 2023
      • Presentation
      • Tower Challenge
      • Mobile Training Challenge
      • Fitness Challenge
      • General
      • Group
      • Prize Giving
    • AOSH Firexpo 2023
    • Midvaal Fit to Fight Fire
      • Midvaal Challenge
      • Midvaal General Photos
      • Midvaal Team Photos
      • Midvaal Prize Giving
    • WC IFFD 2023
    • NMU 13th Fire Management Symposium 2022
    • JOIFF Africa Conference 2022
    • ETS 2022 Gallery
      • ETS 2022 Main Scenario
      • ETS 2022 Fire Fighter Challenge
      • ETS 2022 Skills Event
      • ETS 2022 Exhibitors/demonstrations
      • ETS 2022 Team Photos
      • ETS 2022 General Photos
      • ETS 2022 Awards Ceremony
    • TFA 2022 Gallery
      • TFA 2022 Main Gallery
      • TFA 2022 Group Gallery
      • TFA 2022 Mini TFA
      • TFA 2022 Awards Gallery
    • IFFD 2018
      • Western Cape
    • SAESI
    • TFA
      • TFA 2018
      • TFA 2019
        • TFA 2019 Start
        • TFA 2019 Stage 1
        • TFA 2019 Stage 2
        • TFA 2019 Stage 3
        • TFA 2019 Awards
        • TFA 2019 General
        • TFA 2019 Group
    • WRC 2018
    • WRC 2019
    • A-OSH/Securex
    • IFE AGM 2019
    • ETS Ind Fire Comp Nov 2019
    • ETS Challenge 2021
    • Drager launch
    • Drager Fire Combat and Rescue Challenge 2022
  • TFA
  • Contact