A legal notice has been sent to the government bodies concerned to ensure adequate supply of Russell’s Viper’s antivenom to every hospital, clinic and health facility in the country.
Supreme Court lawyer Bahauddin Al Imran sent the notice in the public interest to the secretary of the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the secretary of the Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs, the director general of the directorate general of Health Services and the director general of the Drug Administration on Tuesday.
The notice also sought steps for environmentally friendly production of vaccines within the country to prevent deaths from Russell's Viper snakebite and the availability of adequate numbers of doctors at the health facilities.
According to the notice, panic has spread recently in several districts across Bangladesh about Russell's Viper. However, citizens are also expressing concerns about the issue through the social networking site Facebook. Many are suggesting that once bitten by Russell's Viper, a person dies instantly. The situation has reached such a level that many are campaigning to kill Russell's Viper.
Meanwhile, a news report published in the Daily Bhorer Kagoj on June 23 titled “Russell's Viper panic in Rajshahi generates concerns among people”. The report said there are not enough vaccines at the health facilities across the country.
According to information published in the media, many people die from venomous snake bites in Bangladesh every year only due to lack of timely treatment, especially for lack of adequate antivenom at hospitals. This is because no antivenom is produced locally in Bangladesh. The antivenoms that are now used to treat snake bites in the country come from India.
According to the World Health Organization’s guidelines, antivenoms prepared from local snakes are most effective in treating snakebite patients. Also, antivenoms from other countries may not be 100% effective in this country since the nature of snakes in each country is different, the notice further said.
It further said that the authorities have been requested to store adequate antivenom in hospitals, clinics and healthcare centers across the country within seven days of receiving this notice. Otherwise, a case will be filed with the High Court in this regard.
