Snakebite Mitigation Project In Gujarat

Snakebite Mitigation Project In Gujarat

- Mr Soham Mukherjee

Snakebites contribute to a staggering 46,000 deaths each year in India—a number that will only increase if the issue continues to go unaddressed. Contributing to about 5 per cent of all deaths due to injury and nearly 0.5 per cent of all deaths each year in India, snakebite is a huge public health issue requiring urgent attention. Sadly, most snakebite deaths go unreported, victims are not aware of the proper medical treatment necessary to treat snake bites; it is difficult to access antivenom, and many of these deaths are also avoidable. A majority of snakebite victims work in farms and plantations with a high density of venomous snakes. Other than the emotional aspects of the loss, the economic burden from losing an earning member of the family is significant. Survivors who sustain permanent physical disability as a result of the snakebites become a liability to their families, and are subject to social stigma. The immediate handling of snakebites is a prominent issue. Frequently, victims do not seek appropriate treatment, either due to a preference for traditional healers or due to lack of awareness of necessary treatment. When they do go to a hospital for treatment, they may not be able to afford it as antivenom is expensive. Treatments can get even more complicated due to the particular effects of bites from different snakes— ranging from severe bleeding disorders to respiratory distress/failure. This raises the need for multi-specialty hospital care, which is frequently unavailable or unaffordable.

Snakebite Mitigation