ICMR Adopts Demow Model for National Snakebite Prevention

Brief Context

Context The Demow Model from eastern Assam’s Sivasagar has been chosen as one of the successful systems of snakebite prevention and management under a project sanctioned by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The project, called the Zero Snakebite Death Initiative: Community Empowerment and Engagement for Mitigation of Snakebite Envenoming. Snakebite Envenoming The snakebite envenoming (poisoning from snake bites) was classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a high-priorit

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Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• The Demow Model from eastern Assam’s Siva sagar has been chosen as one of the successful systems of snakebite prevention and management under a project sanctioned by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
  • The project, called the Zero Snakebite Death Initiative: Community Empowerment and Engagement for Mitigation of Snakebite Envenoming.

Snakebite Envenoming 

• The snakebite envenoming (poisoning from snake bites) was classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a high-priority neglected tropical disease.
• An estimated 1.8 – 2.7 million people worldwide are envenomed annually. 
• Snake Bites in India: 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.  
  • In India, around 58,000 deaths occur of an estimated 3-4 million snake bites annually.
  • Snakebite deaths are more common (48%) during the southwest monsoon (June-September).
  • Close to 70% of snakebite deaths occur in nine states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
• India has more than 310 species of snakes. Of these, 66 are labelled venomous or mildly venomous.
  • The ‘Big Four’ were considered responsible for most venomous bites in the country, but newer studies show other species also contribute to the snakebite burden, particularly in the Northeast.

Source: TH