There is a need to create awareness about snake bites and their treatment – Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil.
Mumbai: – Snakebite is still a major problem in rural areas. All sections of society should be aware to reduce the number of deaths due to snake bites. At the same time, there is a need to create awareness about snake bites and their treatment, said Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil.
Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope was speaking at the unveiling of the Mission Impossible documentary on the Zero Snake Bite Death Project organized by the Vighnahar Medical Foundation. MLA Atul Benke, Additional Chief Secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas, Principal Secretary Dr Nilima Karketta, Director of ICMR Dr Gitanjali Sachdev, President of IMA Dr Ramakrishna Londhe was also present.
Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said that snake bites are a major problem in rural areas. There are some misconceptions about snake bites. The Zero Snake Bite Death Project will be useful to eliminate this. Vaccines against snake bites are expensive. There is a need to conduct training programs for public awareness about snake bites. He also suggested that the public health department should organize such programs.
Public Health Minister Tope said the challenge is to reduce snakebite deaths. In Junnar, Ambegaon, Manchar taluka, deaths due to snake bites have been reduced. But this is how it should be done across the state. For this, training will be given to the staff of the health department. Consideration will be given to setting up a training institute for this purpose.
Death by snakebite will be included as a notified disease. Consideration will be given to increase the limit of Mahatma Jotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana for treatment of snake bites, added Shri. Tope said.
Introduced by Dr Sadanand Raut. He said that due to snake bites, villagers in rural areas, especially farmers and agricultural labourers, have to face this problem. This project will be useful to overcome this. Former MLA Balasaheb Dangat, Dr.D. C. Patel, Dr Priyanka Kadam, Ashok Hande, Dr Sandesh Raut was also present.
