Saint Lucia’s Senior Medical Officer for Urgent Care and Health Disaster Management, Dr Delphina Vernor, says insights gained at a recent regional meeting in Brazil will directly inform the nation’s clinical protocols and public education efforts on snakebite treatment.
Following her participation in the REDPEVA regional forum on venomous animal accidents in Latin America and the Caribbean, Vernor said authorities are committed to ensuring that guidelines remain current and that rural and agricultural communities are equipped with the knowledge and resources to respond effectively.
Held at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, the meeting convened experts from over 20 countries to share data, review emergency response strategies, and discuss advancements in anti-venom therapies, surveillance systems, and community outreach.
It was organised by the Pan American Centre for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health (PANAFTOSA/VPH), under the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO).
While Saint Lucia’s only venomous snake is the endangered Saint Lucia Fer de Lance (Lancehead), Vernor noted that climate change is influencing its distribution and the frequency of bites.
“Regional collaboration ensures better preparedness to manage potential risks, improve clinical protocols, and secure access to essential anti-venom treatments,” she said.
The forum, themed Integration and Sustainability as Key Pillars for Addressing Accidents Caused by Venomous Animals, included an international seminar and drew toxicologists, clinicians and policymakers to address the growing public health burden of snakebites, scorpion stings, and spider envenomations – conditions now classified as neglected tropical diseases.
Key outcomes included consensus on standardised clinical management protocols, strengthened regional supply chains for anti-venoms and commitments to enhanced surveillance and training for health professionals. Climate change and its role in shifting species distribution were also central to the discussions.
Earlier this year, Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Health’s Universal Health Coverage Unit launched an initiative to provide free treatment for snakebite victims, including antivenom, medication, lab tests, surgery, physiotherapy and hospitalisation.
