Kangra Health Department steps up snakebite awareness drive

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Programmes to be held across all blocks on September 19; anti-snake venom now available up to PHC level

Dharamshala, September 14

The Kangra Health Department has intensified its campaign to reduce deaths caused by snakebites in the district, with awareness programmes planned across all blocks on September 19 to mark International Snakebite Awareness Day.

Kangra Chief Medical Officer Dr Omesh Bharti said a special campaign had been underway in the district since May, focusing on public awareness as well as ensuring timely treatment for snakebite victims.

He said messages on snakebite prevention and awareness would be disseminated in local languages through community radio across Himachal Pradesh. Blocks and institutions showing better performance would also be honoured by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Health Department, he said.

Bharti said snakebite cases had started being reported to the Health Department after snakebite was made a notifiable disease, helping authorities receive data on cases and deaths.

According to the CMO, the campaign launched in May was followed by a decline in snakebite cases and deaths in the district by June-July. He said around two to three deaths were reported in Kangra during the period.

He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had set a target of reducing snakebite deaths by 50 per cent by 2030. “Kangra’s target is to go beyond this and make the district free from deaths caused by snakebites,” he said.

Bharti said anti-snake venom was now available up to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) level, enabling treatment to begin closer to patients’ homes.

Citing Nurpur block as an example, he said several patients were earlier referred without being administered anti-snake venom. With treatment now being initiated at PHCs and Community Health Centres, patients were receiving care in time, he said.

The CMO said greater awareness and timely treatment were playing an important role in reducing snakebite deaths.