People Fixing the World

The snakebite squad


Listen Later

It's estimated that a person dies from a snakebite every five minutes. Many more people face life-changing injuries, losing limbs and consequently their livelihoods.

Antivenoms are expensive to make and are in short supply, particularly in remote communities where they are needed the most. And what’s more, snakebites in different parts of the world need different types of antivenoms. Many of the current treatments available in sub-Saharan Africa have been developed from snakes in Asia, but antivenom made to treat Indian snakebites won’t work as well on people bitten by snakes in Africa.

Now a new research facility in Kenya is trying to develop better antivenoms from African snakes.

And they've launched a motorbike snakebite ambulance service too, to get people who have been bitten to hospital fast.

(Photo Credit: BBC)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

People Fixing the WorldBy BBC World Service

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

229 ratings


More shows like People Fixing the World

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,595 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

896 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,055 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,459 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,803 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

963 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,750 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,042 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,090 Listeners

Health Check by BBC World Service

Health Check

90 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

266 Listeners

The Food Chain by BBC World Service

The Food Chain

347 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

972 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

409 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

422 Listeners

Inside Health by BBC Radio 4

Inside Health

87 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

747 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

234 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

336 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

353 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

475 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,193 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

723 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,027 Listeners