SNAKEBITE CRISIS IN VENEZUELA
Every year, more than 7,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in Venezuela. But the country produces only about 5,000 antivenom kits, even though at least two are needed for each patient. The math is simple: there aren’t enough antidotes… and people die or are left with preventable sequelae.
What's filling that gap?
To cope with the shortage, many patients end up receiving imported antivenoms — sometimes even veterinary formulations. Specialists warn that these products can cause severe side effects in humans, including anaphylactic shock, due to different purity standards. But this is the reality faced by those who have no other option.
Another penalty of poverty
The lack of antivenom —and its high cost— often delays treatment. The result: amputations, permanent disabilities, and preventable deaths. That’s why many refer to snakebite as “another penalty of poverty.”
Ignored Psychological Aftereffects
Envenoming leaves invisible scars: anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress comparable to that seen after major natural disasters. For rural Venezuelan farmers, snakebite is a daily fear—greater even than malaria, tuberculosis, or HIV/AIDS.
A problem recognized by the WHO
In 2017, the World Health Organization included snakebite envenoming on the list of Neglected Tropical Diseases (Category A). Venezuela remains the country that contributes the most to the continental burden of this crisis.
What the Vivarium Foundation Does
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to: environmental education; wildlife rescue; prevention of snakebite incidents; informed support, guidance, and accompaniment for victims and medical professionals; and the development of a Venom Bank (project in progress). We work to connect the problem with the solution and reduce the impact of snakebite on vulnerable communities.
Snakebites in Venezuela have a solution—and you are part of it
The answer is clear: prevention, education, and timely medical care. But solutions don’t happen on their own. At Fundación Vivarium, we work on the front lines to ensure that the gap between a bite and the cure is as narrow as possible.
What do we achieve with your support?
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Life-saving education: We provide free programs to schools and rural communities, teaching people how to prevent accidents and respond correctly in a crisis.
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Specialized medical training: We train healthcare professionals nationwide in updated clinical protocols, ensuring they have the expertise to act when every second counts.
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Emergency response & logistics: We serve as the critical link between patients, specialists, and antivenoms. In a case of envenomation, time is the difference between life and death.
This work reduces long-term disabilities, prevents fatalities, and transforms lives—but our reach depends on you. Your donation allows us to train more doctors and protect more families at risk.
Your contribution isn't just a donation; it’s a life saved.
DONATE NOW
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