To join the fight to save lives from snakebites in India, please donate: https://le.ac.uk/research/institutes/environmental-futures/areas/join-the-fight.
Vital research into the causes and circumstances of avoidable snakebite deaths is being led by Professor Nibedita Ray-Bennett at the University of Leicester, working with high-risk groups to find context-specific solutions to reduce avoidable snakebite deaths.
In September 2023, Professor Ray-Bennett, in collaboration with Orissa State Volunteers Social Workers Association (OSVSWA), launched the Case Station for Avoidable Snakebite Deaths (CaSA) in Burujhari, Ganjam. She is trialling a Local-Level Action Network (LAN) with community ambassadors from high-risk groups like women, school children, farmers, and herders.
The urgency of this work is underscored by alarming global snakebite statistics
5 Facts about snakebites
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2023), about 5.4 million snakebites occur each year, resulting in 1.8 to 2.7 million cases of envenoming.
- India accounts for approximately half of all global snakebite deaths reported through traditional surveillance systems, and about 2.97 million snakebite incidences occur each year (Gutiérrez et al., 2017)
- The burden of snakebite deaths and injuries has serious implications for sustainable development (particularly for targets 3.8 and 3B-D) because they push poor households further into poverty.
- Most harm is caused by four species of venomous snakes, namely the common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), spectacled cobra (Naja naja), Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii), and saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus).
- Rural populations, tribal communities, farm workers, fisherfolks, herders, children and communities with limited access to education and health care largely carry the burden of snakebite deaths and morbidity. This group of people is known as ‘high-risk group’.
The Avoidable Deaths Network (ADN) operates under the Institute for Environmental Futures, strengthening its mission to reduce disaster-related deaths, including those caused by snakebites. Donations to support ADN’s initiatives can be made through the Institute for Environmental Futures’ website, contributing to life-saving research and community interventions.
Quote from an Advisor
“The Ambassador Programme is unique and well-positioned to educate and equip the high-risk population living in one of the high-burden regions of Odisha. I believe this will save many lives in the region and be a pioneering proof-of-concept methodology for other districts and states” .
(Dr Stephen Samuel, Registrar, Acute Medicine, NHS UK and Senior Vice President of Clinical Medicine at Ophirex, Inc. USA, working on developing small molecule-based antidotes for venomous snakebites)
Quote from an Ambassador
“I enjoyed the workshop and enjoyed meeting you all. Before the workshop, I did not know much about snakes. I am scared of snakes. So I worshipped snakes out of fear and got blessings for my family’s safety. After learning about myths and misconceptions about snakes I am no longer a blind believer. I have shared the knowledge learnt with my neighbours, friends and family on how to prevent being bitten by a snake. I feel proud to be an ADN Ambassador. Village people know me as a woman leader and now people know me as a leader outside my country”.
(ADN Ambassador 1, Su Mandol Gram Panchayat, Ganjam District, Odisha)
For more details please click this link: https://le.ac.uk/research/institutes/environmental-futures/areas/join-the-fight/quotes-from-people-involved