29/07/2025
Press Conference | RMLIMS Lucknow | Snakebite Prevention Workshop
On the eve of Naag Panchami, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS), Lucknow, in collaboration with the Foundation for People-Centric Health Systems (FPHS), New Delhi, launched a vital awareness initiative on snakebite prevention.
The Community Medicine Department at RMLIMS hosted three targeted workshops with participation from key stakeholders:
Health administrators – discussed surveillance gaps and interdepartmental coordination
Medical professionals – focused on case-based management, WHO guidelines, and the use of ASVS (anti-snake venom serum)
Media professionals – emphasized accurate reporting and the role of media in building public awareness
📊 India records nearly 58,000 deaths annually due to snakebites, with Uttar Pradesh among the worst affected states. Delayed treatment due to reliance on traditional healers and lack of awareness of ASVS are key contributors to these preventable deaths.
🎤 In his address, Dr. C.M. Singh, Director of RMLIMS, and Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya, Founder of FPHS and a renowned public health expert, emphasized the need for timely ASVS administration and standardized referral protocols, which can drastically reduce fatalities.
They also highlighted the importance of busting myths, improving community education, and building a coordinated response.
🔑 Key Highlights:
🩺 Timely use of Anti-Snake Venom Serum (ASVS) can prevent nearly all deaths
🔁 Standardized referral systems are essential for effective snakebite management
🚫 Addressing myths, misinformation, and unsafe first-aid practices is critical
🏥 Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease needing urgent public health attention
🗺️ Future workshops are planned in high-incidence districts: Sonbhadra, Barabanki, Fatehpur, Sitapur, and Lalitpur
This initiative marks a major step toward a community-driven, evidence-based, and policy-supported response to snakebite prevention and control in Uttar Pradesh.
