In 2024, we, Pflaster für Tansania eV, have greatly expanded our commitment to snake bites as a neglected tropical disease. Our focus is on sustainable development cooperation within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN).
In the area of snake bites, a neglected tropical disease, we aim to at least halve the damage caused by this disease by 2050. Snake bites are becoming increasingly relevant as the population in Tanzania is expected to double to over 140 million by 2050. At the same time, people are encroaching ever further into the snakes' habitat and there are more conflicts in coexistence.
Since August 2024, we have been supporting the FAME hospital in Karatu, in addition to the Meserani Snake Park Clinic. Together with FAME, we have the opportunity to support over 3,000,000 people in north-eastern Tanzania by providing free treatment for snake bites. We attach importance to a concept of education, training, capacity building and the provision of antivenin to ensure high-quality medical care.
Since July 2024, we have been in discussions with the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Health in Tanzania and other international and national organizations and are developing concepts on how we can ensure comprehensive, free care for patients with snake bites in Tanzania.
With every day that snakebites continue to be neglected, people die. Families are ruined on a daily basis and lose their entire livelihood. Due to poor global health governance, lack of interest and insufficient international development cooperation, it has not been possible to develop an effective campaign so far.
