The Togolese government, in collaboration with the National Program for the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (PNLMTN), recently celebrated the first International Snakebite Awareness Day in Togo. The event, which took place on September 3, 2026, brought together health professionals and stakeholders to discuss the challenges and best practices in addressing snakebites. The conference, themed "Disabilities caused by snakebites," aimed to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and effective treatment.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over five million people worldwide are victims of snakebites every year. In an effort to raise awareness and promote action, the WHO has designated September 19 as the International Day of Snakebite Awareness. Togo joined this global initiative with a conference and a training webinar for health workers. The training, which took place on September 2, 2026, was led by Dr. Picham Gnassinké, coordinator of the PNLMTN.
The conference featured discussions on three sub-themes: physical disabilities, neurological impacts, and psychological consequences of snakebites. Dr. Gnassinké presented an overview of the situation in Togo, highlighting the challenges and prospects. The discussions also focused on the importance of adopting the right reflexes in case of a snakebite, including avoiding the use of ineffective treatments such as "pierre noire" and "garrot."
The high cost of antivenom, which is subsidized by the government, was also a topic of discussion. Each ampoule costs around 15,000 CFA francs, making it a significant challenge for many patients. The participants also discussed the management of medical supplies and the need for effective treatment and care.
Dr. Picham Gnassinké expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Health for its support and praised the dedication of health professionals on the ground. He also emphasized the measures taken by Togo to ensure the continuous availability of treatments and expressed his hope that the next edition would bring together even more experts and amplify the actions on the ground.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Kokou Wotobé, welcomed the strong mobilization of specialists and emphasized the importance of prevention. He congratulated the PNLMTN team for organizing the first edition and reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting the population and ensuring effective care.
The celebration of the first International Snakebite Awareness Day in Togo marked an important step in raising awareness about the risks of snakebites and the need for effective prevention and treatment. The event brought together health professionals and stakeholders to discuss the challenges and best practices in addressing snakebites, and it is expected to contribute to reducing the impact of snakebites on the population.
Key points
- The Togolese government and the PNLMTN celebrated the first International Snakebite Awareness Day in Togo with a conference and training webinar.
- The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and effective treatment of snakebites.
- The discussions highlighted the challenges and best practices in addressing snakebites, including the high cost of antivenom and the need for effective treatment and care.
