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In the early days of Bio-Ken, residents in the Watamu neighbourhood would bring snakebite victims to the snake farm for help when they realized that neither the local witchdoctor nor the doctor could help. The Ashes had no option but to give the patient the antivenom, knowing that person could not pay for it. Bio-Ken could not afford this on a regular basis either and so the Watamu Antivenom Fund was set up by local residents to help. It helped but it never came close to covering the cost of the antivenom being used. JAAT was set up shortly after James Ashe passed away in 2004.
The goal of JAAT is to reduce the number of unnecessary deaths and disability caused by snakebite by providing the correct antivenom and information. The government hospitals do not stock the correct antivenom, which means, put simply, many people die or become disfigured due to lack of treatment. This has been and remains a very challenging project, but we are constantly encouraged by the success we are having, especially in our area.
If a person is bitten by a venomous snake and they receive the correct antivenom and supportive treatment without delay they will make a full recovery. If they do not they will either die or suffer permanent disability, depending on the species which bit them. The other problem is the cost. The majority of people who get bitten are unable to afford the treatment. JAAT buys the antivenom, which saves their lives.
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