title: The 6(th) international conference on envenomation by Snakebites and Scorpion Stings in Africa: a crucial step for the management of envenomation.
abstract: During the 6(th) International Conference on Envenomation by Snakebites and Scorpion Stings in Africa held in Abidjan, from 1 to 5 June 2015, the measures for the management of envenomation were discussed and new recommendations were adopted by the participants. The high incidence and severity of this affliction were confirmed by several studies conducted in African countries. The poor availability of antivenom, particularly because of the cost, was also highlighted. Some experiences have been reported, mainly those regarding the financial support of antivenom in Burkina Faso (more than 90 %) and Togo (up to 60 %) or the mandatory reporting of cases in Cameroon. Key recommendations concerned: improvement of epidemiological information based on case collection; training of health workers in the management of envenomation; policy to promote the use of effective and safe antivenom; and antivenom funding by sharing its costs with stakeholders in order to improve antivenom accessibility for low-income patients.
authors.affiliation: CERPAGE, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin ; UMR 216, MERIT, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement et Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Pharmacie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chippaux
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Unité d'Entomologie/Herpétologie, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Marc Hermann
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Akaffou
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Unité d'Entomologie/Herpétologie, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Bernard Kouadio
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Allali
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Unité d'Entomologie/Herpétologie, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: Mireille
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dosso
authors.affiliation: CERPAGE, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin.
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massougbodji
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Benedito
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barraviera
keywords: Africa; Antivenom; Drug policy; Envenomation; Epidemiology