World Health Organisation (WHO)

Not for the literal meaning, but because their cries of pain have gone unheard for years.

Snakebite affects the lives of around 4.5 million people worldwide every year; seriously injuring 2.7 million men, women and children, and claiming some 125,000 lives. 

According to the Global Snakebite Initiative, globally the greatest burden is experienced in the tropical world, where many nations remain under-developed or suffer from poor governance, political and/or social, conflict, resource scarcity, high disease burdens, or food insecurity.

For far too long, it has been a challenge for specialists and professionals in the forefront, dealing with snakebite cases and trying to reduce statistics.

A sigh of relief it is, now that snakebite envenoming has been returned to World Health Organisation’s list of Neglected Tropical Diseases. 

The tenth meeting of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG) was held on March 29–30, 2017 at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

This was the message from WHO Country Representative to Papua New Guinea, Dr. Pieter van Maaren.

“The incidence of oral cancer is rising, primarily caused by the chewing of betelnut, with the associated mustard and lime,” stated Dr van Maaren in his World Cancer Day message on Feb 4.

“Combined with tobacco use, the risk of developing oral cancer further increases.