Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Institute of Primate Research, Dr. Peter Gichuhi Mwethera
By: John Kariuki
Snakebites have always been a thorn in the flesh of many Kenyans especially those that live in arid and semi-arid areas of the country.
Scores of people have found themselves on the receiving end for encountering the slithering serpents.
Majority of snakebites are reported in snake-prone areas such as the Coast, Lower Eastern, and the arid parts of thea Rift Valley that include Samburu and Baringo.
The main challenge that snakebite victims suffer is inadequate access to prompt healthcare, not to mention the handful vials of anti-venom available to respond to such incidences.
But one institution – The Kenya Institute of Primate Research, under the Ministry of Health and led Chief Executive Officer Dr Peter Gichuhi Mwethera is keen and committed to change that narrative. The Mt Kenya Times sought a one-on-one interview with the CEO and this is what he had to say:
“Snakebite and the resultant consequences have for long been a neglected tropical disease. As an institution, we are into partnerships with other organizations in a bid to develop a modern, effective anti-venom that will respond to daily distress calls of snakebite cases. At the moment our country depends on imported anti-venom mainly from India and Europe, but this has known shortcomings including less effectiveness because of being sourced from “alien” snakes. The Institution is looking forward to develop the said antivenom in a span of the next 15 months. One big advantage is the goodwill and support from the Government that has already released the first tranche of the money. The money will go a long way in facilitating the first phase of the locally-sourced antivenom manufacture. Firstly, the venom ‘milked” from our local snakes will be exported for processing in India, and after an year, through a technology-transfer program, the antidotes will be locally manufactured and in about one year the country will be self-sufficient in anti-venom manufacture.
Other than that, the Institution is in partnership with other organizations in a bid to sensitize communities, empower health professionals as well as advocate for prompt rush to health facilities. The institution is also in the process of mapping out the areas, to provide more effective response and save the 8,000 Kenyans who suffer amputation, disfiguration or incapacity due to snakebites.
In the area of research, the institution has partnered with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. The institution has a parcel of land spanning 78 acres in Samburu for the said research.
The Director General also alluded the need to approach the private sector in a bid to forge partnerships, collaboration and synergy towards the worthy cause.
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About the Author
We are open for business. Mwethera has our numbers
The private sector that Institute of Primate Research needs is SB-Elixa Ltd holders of the Industrial Property of Muthea Antivenom, We are start up pharmaceutical enterprise based in Wamunyu in Machakos County. We are working to develop the worlds first supervalent antivenom and will be happy to work with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and GoK once the president identifies the most able institution in the country.
. Have spoken to the Englishmen lately?