Session on snakebite management organized in Manas National Park

* On an average, 58,000 humans die annually due to snakebite, mostly in the rural areas

GUWAHATI: In India, study on trends in snakebite reported that on an average 58,000 humans die annually due to snakebite, mostly in the rural areas. Despite the high rate of deaths, the issue remains mostly unaddressed. With the WHO (World Health Organization) aiming to reduce human deaths due to snakebite by 2030, it has become essential to enlighten the masses in ways for dealing with snakebite. Keeping this in mind, Aaranyak has initiated a series on interactive session on snakebite management.

Addressing the interactive session on snakebite management held on April 10, at the Workshop Building, MCOC (Manas Conservation Outreach Centre) Campus of Aaranyak near the Manas National Park, anaethesiologist and snakebite social activist Dr Surojit Giri shed light on ways to deal with snakebites. Focussing on the commonly found venomous snakes, Dr Giri also dealt on ways to identify them. He emphasized that snakebite cases should be considered as a medical emergency which is unfortunately not the case in the present scenario. Furthermore, he mentioned that snakebite should be treated by specialists having proper medical knowledge, not by using any superstitious practice.

There is a need for change in health policies so that antivenoms are made available in PHC (Primary Health Centre)-level in the village areas, he said.

Dr Giri, however, added that non-venomous snakes are natural pest controllers.

The workshop was jointly organised by Aaranyak, Manas Tiger Reserve Authority and IMA, Sibsagar. The session was attended by Dhirendra Nath Basumatary, Assistant Commissioner of Forest, Manas Tiger Reserve (MTR), Kameswar Baro, in-charge of Bhuyanpara Range Office, MTR, eight members from the Manas Tigers team — a mobile patrol unit of MTR, nine other frontline staff from the range, five local youths, four members from the 'Snake Rescue Team' of Manas, 20 persons from Aaranyak who work in various capacities in the field.

Thanking Dr Surojit Giri for conducting the workshop, Dhirendra Nath Basumatary commented, "I think the workshop will be beneficial to the frontline staffs who are prone to snakebite, specially in the upcoming monsoon season." Emphasizing the need to formulate a policy to have snakebite treatment facility in the PHCs across fringe areas of Manas, he said that it will go a long way in saving lives of both forest staff and people dwelling in the fringe areas.

One of the participants, Kabiram Narzary (president of Kumguri Village from the Manas fringe area) shared his experiences of encountering a case of snakebite in his village where the victim had to lose his limb as it was tightly tied even though the snake was a non-venomous one. He said that owing to the lack of proper knowledge, the victim lost his leg. He further stated that the snakebite management workshop helped him a lot about the subject, and added that from now on he will be able to guide others about proper handling and treatment of people bitten by snakes, stated a press release issued by the publicity secretary of Aaranyak, Alolika Sinha.

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