The World Health Organization (WHO) approved the implementation of an initiative that aims to reduce mortality rates as a result of snake bites.
The project will not only -frequently- give effective and safe medicines to the world population with higher poverty rates, it also seeks to empower communities and strengthen health systems.
The goal is to be able to reduce 50% of these deaths by 2030. This is possible thanks to the Costa Rican talent, because the initiative that hosted the WHO was designed by the Clodomiro Picado Institute of the University of Costa Rica (ICP-UCR).
Costa Rican professionals managed to get organizations to recognize this type of poisoning as an unhealthy disease and a global health crisis. They showed that one of the reasons for the neglect is that, as most accidents occur in rural and poor areas, the pharmaceutical houses do not produce the medicines because those people do not have the purchase power to buy them.
In the next few months, some $82 million will be invested worldwide to counteract the crisis. This money will be used to grant doses of serum and other ophidian components.
In the country there are about 600 poisonings by snake bites every year. Nevertheless, it is able to produce and offer this medicine to any Costa Rican, regardless of where they live or their social status.
At the global level, we are a model in the approach to the poisoning by snake bites, which allows us to assume a leadership role in confronting the problem on a national, regional and global scale,”
said the Minister of Health, Daniel Salas.
Throughout the year, the pilot plan will be launched in 12 countries and by 2025 the initiative might be expanded throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.