Medical officers trained on snakebite management

KOHIMA — For the first time, a workshop and capacity-building for medical officers on National Programme for Prevention and Control of Snake Envenoming (NPPCSE) was held at the conference hall of the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare in Kohima on Thursday.

Speaking at the programme, the commissioner and secretary of Health and Family Welfare, V Kezo, pointed out that there is less prevalence of snakes in the state when compared to the mainland India. He, however, termed as one area as mortality rates are high.

Stating that doctors have the potential to transform the lives of people and communities, Kezo urged them to remain committed to their profession ceaselessly to impact lives.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Akuo Sorhie, NHM mission director, informed that snakebite envenoming is a significant public health issue in India, primarily due to its high incidence and mortality rate particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare facilities is limited.

She pointed out that India is one of the countries with highest rate of snakebite incidents where thousands of people are bitten by snakes each year leading to severe morbidity and mortality, especially among rural communities.

The mission director stated that a dedicated snakebite envenoming programme can significantly reduce mortality rates by ensuring timely access to anti-venom and appropriate medical care. She added that many snakebite deaths occurred due to delay in reaching healthcare facilities or inadequate treatment.

She maintained that a programme focused on snakebite envenoming can help improve access to essential services including anti-venom, training for healthcare providers and community education on snakebite prevention and first aid.

Dr. Sorhie was of the opinion that efforts to improve anti-venom, development of better diagnostic tools and enhance treatment protocols could lead to efficient management of snakebite cases. She added that the involvement of local communities in snakebite prevention and management initiatives can empower individuals with knowledge and skills to identify venomous snakes, administer first aid and seek prompt medical attention.

She also highlighted that a dedicated programme can raise public awareness about the risks associated with snakebites and dispels myths and misconceptions surrounding snake envenoming.

To address the problem effectively at the national and regional levels, she advocated improved surveillance systems, standardised treatment protocols and increased availability of anti-venom in healthcare facilities.

Meanwhile, she expressed gratitude to the National Centre for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, for initiating the roll out of this program adding that it would address the neglected tropical disease effectively.

Dr. Sorhie further expressed hope that with necessary skilling and availability of trained healthcare workers, access to anti-venom, awareness generation on snakebite envenoming and community participation, it would be able to address the morbidity and mortality through snakebites in the state.

During the programme, Dr. Ajit D Shewale, deputy director of Division of Zoonotic Diseases Programme (DZDP) at National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), presented updates on the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snake Bite Envenoming, while Lansothung Lotha, range forest officer, presented venomous snakes of Nagaland and Dr. Mohan, assistant professor of Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, highlighted clinical management of snakebite envenoming.