Chennai: To bring down the number of snake bite deaths in India and to enhance the quality of antivenom across the country, Chennai-based Centre For Herpetology and Madras Crocodile Bank is all set to take up an integrated snake bite mitigation project covering seven Indian states that report maximum snake bites. “TN, Andhra, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and MP account for the maximum snake bite deaths and there are up to 50,000 deaths due to snake bites making India the global snake bite capital,” said Allwin Jesudasan, project co-ordinator, Snake Bite Mitigation Project.
The project, a brainchild of celebrated herpetologist Romulus Whitaker has just commenced in TN and will continue for the next six months. Based on the template created the project will extend to six other states. Apart from the educational component, the project includes the geographical mapping of snake bites, to identify the “hot spots” where the medically important snakes are most common. This information can be used to guide anti venom production and distribution. There will also be a systematic collection of venoms from around the country for testing, which will enable labs to improve our standards of antivenom.
According to MCB sources, herpetologist Whitaker on Thursday kick-started the awareness building programme among the stakeholders dealing snakes. Through education and awareness-building programme funded by USV Laboratories in Mumbai, both snakes and people will gain protection. A focal workshop was held at MCB to fine-tune strategies for disseminating snakebite awareness through appointed educators, who will coordinate outreach programmes and activities, including talks, street theatre, radio and TV shows and engagement with educational institutions, sources said adding the programme will also fight against the superstitions related to snake bites promoted by faith healers and herbal ‘doctors.
