Union Health Ministry launches National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming in India

Union Health Ministry launches National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming in India

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Health

Context:

• The Union Health Secretary launched a National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-SE) in India.

More on news:

• An array of IEC materials including a booklet on Snakebite, Posters on “Dos” and “Don’ts” for the general community and a 7-minute video on Snakebite Awareness also launched.
• Snakebite Helpline, a vital resource that will provide immediate assistance, guidance, and support to individuals and communities affected by snakebite incidents will be piloted in five States (Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi).
• National One Health Programme for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses onboarded on the Integrated Health Initiative Platform to strengthen surveillance of zoonotic diseases in the country.

About The National Action Plan for Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE):

• Vision: “To prevent and control snakebite envenoming in order to halve the numbers of deaths and cases of disability that it causes by 2030”.
• Mission: To progressively reduce the morbidity, mortality and its associated complications in humans due to Snake bite.
• The National Action Plan for Snakebite Envenoming (NAPSE) provides a broad framework for management, prevention and control of Snake bite envenoming in India.
• The activities of human health component are already being implemented under snakebite prevention and control through the State and District Nodal Officer (SNO & DNO) under National Health Mission.
• Surveillance is a key element in NAPSE so that problems can be easily identified, and actions could be undertaken in a timely manner.

About Snakebite Envenoming:

• Snakebite envenoming is a potentially life-threatening disease following the bite of a venomous snake.
• In India, around 50,000 deaths occur of an estimated 3-4 million snake bites annually which accounts for half of all snakebite deaths globally.
• As per the Central Bureau of Health Investigation (CBHI) reports (2016-2020), the average annual frequency of snakebite cases in India is around 3 lakhs and about 2000 deaths occur due to snakebite envenoming.
• In India, around 90% of snake bites are caused by the ‘big four’ among the crawlers – common krait, Indian cobra, Russell’s viper and saw scaled viper.
• Administration of polyvalent anti-snake venom (ASV) containing antibodies against cobra, Russell’s viper, common krait and saw scaled viper is effective in 80% of the snakebite cases, however, lack of trained human resources and health facilities to treat snakebite patients remains a cause of concern.

What makes snakebite a neglected tropical disease (NTD):

• There are four primary criteria that define an illness as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), and snakebite envenoming satisfies each of them:
• First, there is a significant burden of mortality and morbidity (as detailed in the answer to question 1) – snakebite envenoming is a high-impact disease.
• Secondly, a majority of incidents of snakebite occur in the world’s tropical and subtropical regions, and it particularly impacts the poor – snakebite is a tropical disease.
• Thirdly, snakebite is amenable to treatment, as well as prevention – the impact of snakebite can be mitigated now if we make the effort to do so.

Finally, the overall level of investment in research addressing snakebite, from prevention to diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation, is exceptionally low in comparison to its impact – snakebite is a neglected disease.