On Tuesday, May 27, 2025 – The County Government of Kitui deepened its partnership with the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE) in a bid to bolster efforts in the prevention and management of snakebite envenoming (SBE), a pressing health concern in the region.
In a high-level meeting held on Tuesday, senior officials from both institutions, including members of KIPRE’s Board of Directors, convened to discuss strategic collaborations. Key agenda items included advancing evidence-based snakebite interventions, finalizing the Prior Informed Consent and Mutually Agreed Terms (PIC & MAT) framework, and aligning on county health priorities.
Speaking during the session, Governor Dr. Julius Malombe lauded KIPRE’s ongoing contributions and reiterated his administration’s commitment to mitigating the impact of snakebites across Kitui County. “Our county bears a high burden of snakebite incidents due to the prevalence of venomous species. We welcome and support KIPRE’s scientific and clinical efforts in protecting our people,” he stated.
As part of the partnership, KIPRE is conducting a series of activities in the county, including sensitization workshops for Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and intensive clinical training for frontline healthcare workers. These efforts aim to improve diagnosis and case management of snakebite incidents using up-to-date medical practices.
A Continuing Medical Education (CME) session is scheduled for Friday at Mwingi Level IV Hospital, targeting all clinical and medical staff in the region.
The KIPRE delegation was led by Prof. Johnson Kang’ethe, Chair of the Board’s Research Committee, alongside Director General and CEO Dr. Gichuhi Mwethera.
With Kitui County identified as a hotspot for venomous snake activity, the enhanced collaboration marks a critical step toward reducing snakebite-related morbidity and mortality in the region.
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