Port Moresby
The Australian Venom Research Unit (University of Melbourne) and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (University of Papua New Guinea) share a common interest in improving the prognosis for patients with envenomation following bites and stings by venomous animals in Papua New Guinea. In addition to conducting various programmes of research that address these issues, we are focused on delivering tangible improvements in health service delivery and access to life-saving antivenom products through the development and operation of a new National PNG Antivenom Unit that will be responsible for: |  |
| a). Warehousing, distribution and monitoring the use and safety of all antivenom products purchased by the National Department of Health for use in Papua New Guinea;
b). Implementation of a national system of antivenom use and outcomes in Papua New Guinea and integrated snakebite reporting and clinical surveillance to ensure the most rational and cost-efficient use of antivenoms; c). Phased introduction of diagnostic testing (CSL Snake Venom Detection Kits) to enable identification of venom immunotypes in envenomed patients as a means of reducing the use of high cost, polyspecific (polyvalent) antivenoms and facilitating substitution with less expensive, monospecific (monovalent) antivenoms. This project is being progressed by David Williams, as part of his PhD program at the AVRU, and Dr Simon Jensen, AVRU Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Emergency Medicine at the University of PNG, in collaboration with Professor Lohi Mantainaho, Head of the Discipline of Pharmacology, and Director of the Centre for Biodiversity and Natural Products at the School of Medicine & Health Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea based in Port Moresby. Dr Matainaho is also Chairman of the National Committee on Biodiversity (PNGBioNet) and a member of the National Medical Research Advisory Committee. |
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Read more about the PNG Snakebite Project
Last updated: August 2005
