Assessment of the availability of snakebite antivenom in health facilities in Ndola District, Zambia: a cross-sectional study.
Matafwali, Scott K;
Vlahakis, Pipina A;
Daka, Victor;
Witika, Bwalya A;
Nyirenda, Herbert T;
Chisompola, Namaunga K;
Mwila, Chiluba;
(2021)
Assessment of the availability of snakebite antivenom in health facilities in Ndola District, Zambia: a cross-sectional study.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 116 (6).
pp. 592-594.
ISSN 0035-9203
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trab178
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BACKGROUND: Despite snakebite antivenom being included on the WHO list of essential medicines, many parts of the world, especially Africa, lack effective and safe antivenoms. METHODS: A descriptive, field-based, cross-sectional study was undertaken from August to November 2020 in 40 out of 71 health facilities in Ndola district. Interviews and physical inspection were conducted at each facility. RESULTS: The study revealed that only three (8%) of all the private health facilities had antivenom available at the time of the assessment. Factors significantly associated with antivenom supply included lack of central country supply (90%), lack of demand of the antivenom (55%) and no budget allocation for the antivenom (95%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high number of notified snakebites within Ndola district, there remains poor availability of snakebite antivenom within the district.