Supreme Court Petition Calls For Nationwide Snakebite Treatment And Prevention Measures

A new petition filed in the Supreme Court seeks urgent action to address the high rate of fatalities from venomous snakebites across India. Filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari, the petition urges the court to mandate the availability of antivenom treatment in all government hospitals, medical colleges, and primary and community health centers, as well as district hospitals. The aim is to provide immediate care and reduce the alarming number of deaths, especially in rural areas where access to treatment is limited.

Call For National Snakebite Awareness Campaigns

The petition advocates for a comprehensive snakebite prevention mission and public awareness campaign to reduce mortality rates significantly. Snakebite deaths in India remain notably high, with an average of 58,000 people succumbing annually, according to the petition.

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From 2000 to 2019, over a million lives were lost, with nearly half of the victims aged between 30 and 69 and more than a quarter being children under 15.

The petition highlights that rural regions, particularly in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Rajasthan, and Gujarat, have suffered the majority of these fatalities.

Proposal For Specialized Snakebite Treatment Units

In addition to expanding access to antivenom, the petition calls for the establishment of snakebite treatment and care units in district hospitals and medical colleges staffed by specially trained doctors.

These units, according to Tiwari, should adhere to standard medical protocols to ensure effective treatment. The petition further emphasizes the need for this infrastructure to handle the high prevalence of snakebites during the monsoon season when encounters with venomous snakes are most frequent.

The petition underscores that coordinated action, including access to treatment and heightened awareness, is essential to saving lives and drastically lowering the snakebite mortality rate, especially in densely populated agricultural regions.