1,000,000 people are bitten by snakes in Africa every year... 20,000 people die as a result... Swaziland in particular has a high number of snakebite victims annually. The correct treatment and use of antivenom can stop suffering and deaths.
Due to lack of funding, life-saving anti-venom is just not available in Swaziland, so the people have no choice but to turn to more conventional cures.
Traditional healers prescribe a herbal medicine called ‘mooty’ to ward off and treat snake-bite. 80% of people in Swaziland rely on them.
Snakebites need specialized medical treatment and although herbal cures are great for some things they are not enough to treat a bite from a Black mamba.
"Black Mamba, White Witch"
Was transmitted on BBC2 on 19th November 2009
Antivenom Swazi Foundation
providing hope and cure for snakebite victims in Swaziland
Antivenom is expensive, even by western standards.
One vial of antivenom costs around £45 or $70.
It takes around 5 vials to treat someone who has been bitten by a black mamba.
No donation is too small.
