Nature Park Marks International Snakebite Awareness Day

By FM100 News

Papua New Guinea has 37 species of venomous snakes. 7 are known to be dangerous to humans. Every year there are estimated to be 1,000 snakebite deaths in the country. Nearly half of these fatalities involve children.
As such the Port Moresby Nature Park today is commemorating the world’s second annual celebration of the International Snakebite Awareness Day.
The day aims to raise awareness of the global scale of snakebite injuries as well as highlight ways that snakebites can be prevented.
St John CEO Mathew Cannon and Charles Campbell Toxicology Centre's Lab Manager Owen Paiva were in attendance for the awareness and demonstrations of snakebite first aid at the Nature Park in the hopes the event will help raise more awareness on the dangers of snakebites in the country.