Australia will extend its programme of sending snake antivenom to Papua New Guinea for another three years, providing vital supplies to the country.
Some 600 vital vials of antivenom are donated each year to the Pacific island nation, more than tripling the annual supply before the partnership was started.
The treatment will be distributed to more than 65 healthcare clinics by St John Ambulance and workers will be trained to manage snakebite patients and collect data to help boost care.
Almost two-thirds of ventilator bed days recorded in the Port Moresby hospital's intensive care unit are the result snakebites and there are an estimated 1000 deaths a year, according to CSL Seqirus which manufactures 11 antivenoms.
Almost half are children.
The partnership between PNG and the government has been extended until 2027.
The partnership has saved 2000 lives since 2018 with almost 3000 doses delivered to treat bites from snakes and marine creatures, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said.
"With one of the highest incidences of snakebite in the world, this partnership provides critical support to improving patient outcomes in PNG," he said.
Australia continues to provide help to PNG after a deadly landslide in a remote province.
Estimates of people buried have varied from hundreds to about 2000.
