National advisory group to offer snakebite medical advice
A team of doctors will now be offering their services, on an advisory pro bono basis, to other practitioners and hospitals when dealing with cases of snake bites.
The National Snakebite Advisory Group was formally launched on World Trauma Day this week.
Dr. Tim Hardcastle - who is the Head of the Trauma Unit at Albert Luthuli Hospital and spokesperson for NSAG - says the team of experts are a needed resource.
"It's not so much that there's been cases that have occurred. In many parts of KZN and our country, access to snakebite anti-venom is limited. The experience and skills of clinicians in dealing with significant snake bites is limited. So, the idea behind the snakebite advisory group is so that if clinicians and hospitals are faced with one or two major snake bites every year, that they have people they can contact, discuss the case and get advice in terms of management, wound care, anti-venom and other drugs," he said.
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Hardcastle says the group of professionals will be consulting on a voluntary basis.