City Reporter: Chittagong District Civil Surgeon has given six instructions, including keeping antivenom and all other treatments ready in every upazila health complex in Chittagong, to save the lives of snake-bitten patients. Dr. Mohammad Ilyach Chowdhury.
He gave this instruction to all the upazila health and family planning officers of Chittagong on Saturday to take all measures, including removing the fear related to Russell’s viper (Chandrabora snake) from the public mind. It is also warned that if any kind of complications arise in the management of snakebite patients, all kinds of responsibility will fall on the head of the concerned institution.
Other guidelines include: all medical services, including antivenom, are available at the upazila health complex if the person infected with Russell viper comes to the upazila health complex in less time; it should be widely publicized; and leaflets, posters, and banners should be hung in upazila and community clinics. Apart from this, it is also directed that the local management should make wide publicity in the media that the treatment facilities for the people affected by Russell Viper will be available at the Upazila Health Complex.
The third and fourth directives state that health education programs should be strengthened through CHCPs, including sanitary inspectors, health inspectors, assistant health inspectors, and health assistants. Any snake bite should encourage the patient to seek medical attention as soon as possible without resorting to pressure.
Besides, upazila health and family planning officers are instructed to take initiative to increase public awareness in this matter by communicating with local parliament members, public representatives, upazila administration, information office, and news workers.
