The ministries of Health and Agriculture have collaborated on the institution of a Centre for Excellence for Snake Bite Education. On September 21, well being practitioners on the west coast participated in a coaching session to carry consciousness to snake species in Saint Lucia.
Public Health Nurse Supervisor, Yasmine Gabriel, mentioned the coaching is in step with plans to make the Anse La Raye Wellness Centre a hub for snake chew training.
“The Anse La Raye Wellness Centre is going to be renamed the Centre of Excellence for Snake Bite Education. We do not treat snake bites in our Wellness Centres but we believe that the most crucial measure in reducing fatalities from snake bites is education. So we are starting to educate our staff.”
The session lined subjects starting from the way to determine venomous snakes and the way to defend oneself. Nurses from the Anse La Raye, Vanard, and Canaries Wellness Centres had been in attendance.
At current, Saint Lucia’s snake inhabitants consists of 4 species, one in all which is venomous. Assistant Chief Forestry Officer, Pius Haynes, mentioned with the ability to differentiate is essential.
“The training was more focused on the snakes endemic to Saint Lucia and their identification. It also covered how can we distinguish between the Saint Lucia Boa and the Saint Lucia Fer-de-Lance, because persons have had a lot of issues identifying one from the other. The sessions also discussed ecological requirements, where you are most likely to encounter a Fer-de-Lance and a Boa and what their diets are composed of.”
While Region Seven is a well known snake habitat, the Forestry Division is reporting a rise in snake sightings across the island. The Assistant Chief Forestry Officer assures the general public that the lifesaving anti-venom available on the Owen King EU Hospital, is all the time on readily available.
