PNG Snakebite Partnership

From July 18–26, our team delivered snakebite training across Western Province, reaching over 400 people across 11 locations—including healthcare workers, students, and community members.

Thank you to our dedicated team Rose (Pharmacist), John (Community Awareness Officer), and Andrew (Snakebite Clinical Educator) led this initiative with professionalism and commitment. Your efforts continue to make a lasting impact.

We are grateful to the facilities and communities who welcomed us, and to Rotary Melbourne for supporting our community education program. This work is also made possible through the leadership of National St John Ambulance PNG.

Our reach included:

• 7      health facilities trained (e.g. Kiunga Hospital, Rumginae, Daru)
• 2      schools trained (including 88 nursing students at Rumginae)
• 2      marketplaces engaged (over 360 community members reached)

We remain committed to improving health outcomes in some of PNG’s most remote areas—one facility, one student, and one community at a time.

#SnakebiteAwareness #HealthcareTraining #WesternProvince #PNGHealth #RotaryMelbourne #NationalStJohnAmbulancePNG #CommunityHealth

Last week, a woman in her 30s was bitten by a snake near her home at 14 Mile Boroma, just outside Port Moresby. She had been walking toward a nearby river when she suddenly felt a sharp pain near her ankle — the snake quickly disappeared into the bush.

The National St John Ambulance Papua New Guinea responded swiftly, with unit A21 dispatched to the scene.

Health Extension Officer Wemin Kopta provided urgent care and offered reassurance to the patient and her family.

In a well-meaning attempt to help, the woman’s husband cut the bite site to release blood — a practice still common but medically incorrect.

Wemin explained:

“We do not cut the bite or try to suck out the venom. The correct first aid is to apply a firm pressure bandage, keep the limb still, and stay calm until medical help arrives.”

He also advised the community to wear gum boots when walking through grassy or bushy areas to help prevent snakebites.

This positive outcome was only possible thanks to the fast response from the National St John Ambulance Papua New Guinea and the availability of antivenom, allowing the patient to receive the life-saving care she needed without delay.

Snakebite is a serious but treatable emergency. With the right first aid knowledge and timely support, lives can be saved.

Last Wednesday, our clinical educator, Andrew, delivered snakebite management training for the Balimo Hospital team. 

We had a great turnout, with strong participation from hospital staff, three visiting Australian medical students, and several team members from the Sustainable Development Program (SDP). 

It was inspiring to see how confidently the team managed snakebite scenarios — they truly knew it by heart!

We travelled upriver to Awaba, supported by PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd. The local Health Extension Officers demonstrated excellent knowledge of snakebite first aid. During an SDP patrol visit, we also engaged with local staff and 2–3 World Vision officers. 

Andrew then conducted a community awareness session, reaching 151 community members (20 children, 55 women, and 76 men — we did a headcount!).

It was incredibly powerful to hear the community share their beliefs about snakebites, and we were honoured when the local leaders thanked us for coming all the way to support them.

A huge thank you to everyone who made this week a success, with a special shout-out to Liggie Kare for her film-making skills.

In Titihui village, a remote community in Gulf Province without a health post, a routine day turned into a life-threatening emergency when Adamu was bitten by a death adder

. 

With no local treatment available, her family rushed her downriver to Karalti sub-health centre, where Nurse Janet, without antivenom, could only call for help.

What followed was an extraordinary chain of communication, spanning from rural PNG to Auckland, NZ—triggering a night-time boat rescue mission by Kapuna’s medical team through rain and Delta waterways.

By 7 p.m., antivenom was on its way by boat. Within 30 minutes of treatment, Adamu was stabilized, her life saved.

This story is a testament to the power of dedication, quick thinking, and strong networks—across villages, clinics, and countries.

Thank you to Gulf Christian Services - for sharing this story with us

From 1–7 March 2025, our team traveled to Kapuna, Kikori, and Pimaga rural hospitals — many of which had not been visited since 2018 — to deliver lifesaving antivenoms and provide snakebite management training.

Highlights:

• Poroi 2 Village: Delivered snakebite awareness sessions, posters, and crepe bandages to the local health worker.
• Kapuna and Kikori Hospitals: Provided refresher training, checked antivenom stocks and cold chains, and gathered local data on snakebite deaths.
• Pimaga Hospital: Ran snakebite management training and inspected cold chain systems.

We also removed expired antivenoms and collected patient reports to strengthen national surveillance.

A huge thank you to the dedicated healthcare teams keeping their communities safe — and to Total Energies & Santos Foundation for your invaluable logistics support in making this trip possible!

 Our team recently traveled to Yule Island and Kubuna in Central Province to deliver antivenom and provide snakebite management training to local healthcare workers.

We were proud to be joined by the incredible crew from CNA, who are filming the series "Reaching the Unreached," highlighting the challenges of delivering healthcare to remote communities.

A huge thank you to the National St John Ambulance Service, the CNA team, and the Yule Island Healthcare Centre for their support and warm hospitality.

2024. has been a significant one for snakebite care in PNG, and it wouldn’t have been possible without an incredible team. 

Here’s what we achieved together:

• 582 snakebite cases recorded – Dilega Peter, this was all you! Your patience and hard work made this possible.
   
• 497 vials of antivenom delivered to 40 health facilities across 14 provinces – Marjorie Elijah, your dedication and expertise have been invaluable.
   
• 887 health workers trained across 13 provinces – Andrew Maru, your commitment ensures better snakebite care across PNG.
   
• 52 health facilities visited – Liggie Kare, your logistical skills keep this partnership moving. 

Without you, we’d still be stranded in Port Moresby!

A special thank you to Arabella Koliwan and Andrew Watt for your unwavering support, mentorship, and guidance from the very start.

This work saves lives, and we’re not stopping here.