Rotary Melbourne’s ongoing support of the PNG Snakebite Partnership was acknowledged last week in the latest update received from St John. Its team visited Central Province, the highest-risk area for snakebite, to conduct community awareness events at local markets and schools, and run clinical education sessions for Health Workers. These activities were funded by Rotary Melbourne donations.
St John has ensured the Rotary Melbourne logo is prominent on flip charts used in the sessions and on recently purchased temperature-monitored eskies, used to transport antivenom to remote sites. Part of our donation will also go towards an advanced airway skills course for clinicians.
Dr Arabella Koliwan, recently appointed St John PNG Chief Executive, has identified a root cause of recent snakebite deaths as due to a lack of awareness of proper first aid, so our funding is beginning to address this issue.
Another contributor to deaths, according to Kate Datson, Paramedic Project Lead, are challenging roads. Navigating these means antivenom is often hours away from the villages where people are bitten. There are frequent preventable deaths due to the lack of timely retrieval. On just one night this month, for three patients in the same location with confirmed snakebite envenomation, no ambulance was available at all.
St John’s next major goal is therefore to acquire a dedicated snakebite retrieval ambulance capable of dealing with PNG’s roads. St John is currently in discussion with a major mining company regarding acquisition of a retrieval ambulance, as well as logistical assistance to reach remote clinics, such as Tapini and Bosset.
The mining company recently assisted Andrew Maru, St John Clinical Nurse Educator, to travel from Kikori to Moro in Southern Highlands Province, to conduct training at the clinic. This was significant, as St John has been unable to access this location since 2018 due to its remoteness.
There is an important role for Rotary Melbourne to play, working with corporates and local Rotary Clubs to provide a retrieval ambulance. Watch this space.
