He also said that Snakebite envenomation (SBE) is an acute, life-threatening, time-limiting, medical emergency affecting 1.8 to 2.7 million people with an estimated 1,38,000 deaths annually across the globe.”India contributes an average of 58,000 deaths annually. More than 95 per cent deaths occur in rural India. Similar to sub-Saharan Africa, the magnitude of SBE is underestimated in South Asia and South-East Asia. India is one of the world’s most affected countries due to the large population engaged in agricultural activities, use of wattle and daub houses in snakebite-prone rural areas, several slum areas, presence of abundant venomous snakes and lack of community awareness regarding prevention and control of snakebites,” Tripathi said in his petition.He also highlited that according to a 2020 study, an average of nearly 58,000 Indian citizens die each year due to snakebites. However, experts say that actual numbers are likely higher because of the number of unreported cases. Doctors and public health experts cite several reasons for the snakebite crisis, including holy reverence for the animal, lack of access to immediate first aid facilities, reliance on “spiritual healers” and a large share of the rural population living close to agricultural fields.”India faces a significant public health crisis due to the scarcity of antivenom, which is crucial for treating snakebites. Despite this high mortality rate, there is a scarcity of anti-venom (poly-venom). Poly-venom does not reach rural hospitals and healthcare centres here snakebites are most prevalent,” Tripathi said.Stressing the need of anti-venom medicines is the need of the hour, he said that many rural areas lack adequate stocks of antivenom, leading to delays in treatment for victims who may turn to traditional remedies or local healers instead.
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