May 27, 2025 — The County Government of Kitui has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling snakebite envenoming (SBE) through a strengthened partnership with the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE). In a strategic meeting held Tuesday, senior county officials engaged with a delegation from KIPRE’s Board of Directors to align efforts in snakebite prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
The discussions focused on scaling up Snakebite Envenoming (SBE) interventions, reviewing the Prior Informed Consent and Mutually Agreed Terms (PIC & MAT) agreement, and harmonizing these with the county’s broader health priorities.
KIPRE is currently facilitating a sensitization workshop for Community Health Promoters (CHPs), followed by hands-on clinical training for frontline healthcare workers on evidence-based snakebite diagnosis and management. Additionally, a Continuing Medical Education (CME) session is scheduled for Friday at Mwingi Level IV Hospital targeting all medical and clinical staff.
The KIPRE delegation was led by Prof. Johnson Kang’ethe, Chair of the Board’s Research Committee, and Director General and CEO Dr. Gichuhi Mwethera.
Governor Dr. Julius Malombe applauded KIPRE’s ongoing initiatives in Kitui and expressed his administration’s dedication to enhancing healthcare responses to snakebite incidents.
“Kitui County is a known hotspot for venomous snake populations, and our communities face significant risk,” Dr. Malombe said. “We are grateful for KIPRE’s support and remain committed to long-term solutions for snakebite prevention and care.”
The partnership aims to build local capacity, improve emergency response, and promote research-led strategies in managing snakebite-related health challenges.
