He also highlighted that according to a 2020 study, an average of nearly 58,000 Indian citizens die each year due to snakebites. But experts say that actual numbers are likely higher because 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. India has the highest rate of snakebite deaths globally, with approximately 58,000 fatalities each year. Despite this much of high mortality rate there is scarcity of anti-venom (poly-venom). Poly-venom do not reach rural hospitals and healthcare centers where 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.”Approximately more than 90 per cent of snakebite deaths occur in rural settings, where access to medical care is limited. Many villages lack even basic healthcare infrastructure, making it difficult for victimsto receive timely treatment,” Tripathi said.He also pointed out that many healthcare providers in rural areas do not have adequate training or experience in managing snakebites. Doctors and health workers often lack the necessary skills to recognize systemic envenoming and administer antivenom effectively.This gap in knowledge leads to delayed or inappropriate treatment, which leads to death of the patient, he said.”Rural healthcare facilities frequently face high patient loads with limited resources, including staff and medical supplies. This situation overwhelm healthcare providers, making it difficult for doctors to focus on individual cases like snakebites that require immediate attention,” his plea further pointed out.
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