NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has intensified calls for snakebite envenoming to be recognised as a major public health emergency, with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale warning that the country records over 19,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths each year.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026, Duale said the burden of snakebites continues to cause preventable deaths and long-term disabilities, particularly in rural and high-risk regions.
He made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with Elhadj As Sy, where Kenya pushed for stronger global coordination, financing, and accountability in tackling the neglected condition.
Duale outlined Kenya’s response as a system-wide strategy anchored within Universal Health Coverage. The approach integrates snakebite care into primary healthcare, strengthens early detection and referral systems at the community level, and enhances surveillance through the national health information system.
He added that hotspot mapping is being used to better target high-risk areas.
The government is also investing in local solutions to address treatment gaps. The Kenya Institute of Primate Research is advancing the development of antivenom tailored to region-specific snake species.
In parallel, plans are underway to establish a National Antivenom Quality Control Laboratory to improve safety, effectiveness, and regulatory oversight.
At the continental level, Kenya is positioning itself as a key advocate on snakebite response. The country is co-hosting a side event at the 78th World Health Assembly and has initiated Africa’s first Health Ministers’ dialogue on snakebite.
It is also working with regional and global partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, and the African Union Development Agency, to strengthen coordination and mobilise resources.
Kenya further backed the consolidation phase of the Global Snakebite Taskforce, calling for a results-driven approach grounded in national systems.
Upcoming milestones include efforts to elevate snakebite as a standalone agenda item at the WHO Africa Regional Committee session in August 2026 and integrating it into the Africa CDC neglected tropical diseases framework at the Conference on Public Health in Africa later this year.
The meeting concluded with a renewed push for unified global action that delivers measurable impact for affected communities, particularly in underserved regions where access to timely treatment remains limited.
Duale was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni and Director-General for Health Patrick Amoth, alongside other senior officials.
