Last year, after been reading on snake venom for several weeks, I came upon this website:SHE-India (Snake Healing and Education Society)
http://www.she-india.org
I was very grateful to see the "human side" of the snakes bites and... I was shocked too. Till then I was not really conscious of the dimension of snakebite (even not now at all!, just scratching on the surface!) For many religious, cultural, socio-economical, even geographical reasons, in India this is a particularly complex topic not to mention snakes by themselves.
The founder of SHE-India is Priyanka Kadam, and she dedicates all her available free time to snake bites and snake bitten people.
"The impact of the problem is more evident and severe in the rural parts of India, where farm laborers come in contact with snakes and medical facilities are limited.Local hospitals, clinics and care centers find anti-snake venom (ASV) difficult to procure. Limited supply of ASV adds to the demand and the distributors sell this life saving drug at an inflated price. Other significant challenges include a lack of specialized training and community outreach programs to educate the population.
Snakebite Healing and Education Society (SHE) has been founded to address all the above mentioned concerns by engaging experts from different fields. Snakebite expert doctors, Human Rights activists, Scientists, Herpetologists, Lawyers, NGO partners and administrators all form a part of the advisory board and shall help spur this issue into a movement with a unified voice"
SHE is presently working with grass root level people in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh and eventually intends to cover Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
The site has several sections: Home, About us, About Snakes, Real Stories, Snakebite First Aid, Snakebite Treatment Protocol and Mouthpiece.REAL STORIES:
I will start with what is to me the most interesting thing about this website. There are many pages on snakes, plenty of research literature but very, very few resources, are dedicated to the bitten people, mostly poor farmers. SHE-India is about them. How it happened, their living conditions, what they had to go through to get a treatment (to finally don't get it), the local healers...
I would like to highlight another important thing and it is that the written and image treatment of the person, his/her story, the pictures taken... all of them a very respectful. And we need to show respect on people and on the snakes too.
I do have permission from Priyanka to show the content of the web. There are 29 stories most of them directly written by her, with direct interviews on the field to the victim on the snakebite accident or sometimes their relatives as the person died. They are narrating how the snakebite changed their lives: Many things to be learn from that on how all this suffering could be avoided. The stablished relationship and involvement is very personal. Some of the victims are related to the St. Francis Anjali Health Center, in Phitora Chhattisgarh, an example of integration and good work. A short reference already here but that deserves a whole post by itself.
http://onpeopleandsnakes.blogspot.in/2017/01/the-india-snake-bite-initiative.html
This is just a summary. You will find full text and more images on the site.
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| Ranadevi and her daughte |
When Snakebite Seals a Toddler’s Future!
http://www.she-india.org/when-snakebite-seals-a-toddlers-future/"Ranadevi's husband was working on the fields when he was bitten by a Russell's Viper. First the family resorted to faith healing. As his condition was deteriorating very fast he visited a first hospital, was referred to a second hospital and from it referred finally to a government hospital were he died on the 8th day of the bite.
This case ended in tragedy only because there was no tertiary level hospital close to the victim's village equipped for snakebite management."
(A would say that even not a tertiary level hospital is needed. A small medium clinic will do if they are resolved to give ASV treatment, and the first hours of the bite are crucial).
The Story of a Paralyzed Woman!
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| Viviyana Chauranth |
Pradeep, a 40-year old farmer and his wife Viviyana were returning back home by bicycle. There were no street lights but as they were locals they knew the way home even in the dark. They didn't see an adult Russell'd viper crossing the road. The snake got entangled in the bicycle. Pradeep was bitten near the ankle area. First they consulted a local healer and later on did a 3 h ours journey to a hospital. Pradeep died seven days later. Not clear what was the treatment there. He left a wife and seven children. After Pradeep's death, his wife started drinking. As a result of the addiction to country liquor she developed a paralysis. Snake bite is not just a medical condition. It has a socio-economic effect on the victim's family. Pradeep unfortunate death has left his family struggling for even basis sustenance. Some of this children are school dropouts and daily wage workers to support their large family.
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| Kaluram's family |
When Snakebite struck three generations –
A story from Rajasthan
http://www.she-india.org/when-snakebite-struck-three-generations-a-story-from-rajasthan/This is the story of Kaluram's family which lost 3 generations of women due to snakebite.
The first death by snakebite was in 2001. Kaluram's mother was bitten by a cobra resting behind an onion bunch hanging on a corner inside the house. She had to walk 1.5 Km to town and then in a tractor was sent to a local Hanuman Temple, She died on the way and was 35 year old. The family believes that Myth: if she had reached the temple on time she would have survived. Second death was Karula's 6 year old sister, Manchalti. She was bitten around 3 a.m. while sleeping. The family again started for the Balaji temple. She died on the way around 7 a.m. Myth: The family believes that Manchalti died as she was brought outside the house. The villagers believe that venom potency gets higher when one crosses the threshold of the main door.
In August 2012 Maluram's grandmother died indoors. She was found around 8 p.m. with dark bite mark on the side of her torso. Her pace was bluish.
India is steeped in beliefs and myths on snakebites and faith healers. Since most bites are from non-venomous species, the victims survive and the faith in religious practices deepens.
I was going to randomly select three stories but finally I just took the first three because as you can see, so many topics are there to work on!. Seems there is a long way ahead, but as the saying goes, a long journey starts with a small step.
ABOUT US:
You may read the founder's message, Mission and Vision as well as a useful Advisory Board on doctors, herpetologist, lawyers, educators committed with snakebite mitigation. A short biography and sometimes contact phones or mails are given.
Main focus is to create awareness and improve the treatment and life conditions of people affected by snakebite, to most rural areas of India.
ABOUT SNAKES:
Here you will find some educational material on snakes, basically the Big 4. There is a link to a wonderful, wonderful movie on Prevention of the 4 Deadliest Snakes: A survival guide by Romulus Whitaker.
SNAKEBITE FIRST AID:
Basic DO's and DONT's on SnakeBite first Aid as well as some draws about the proper limb immobilization as well as different was for patient transportation.
Links to the information translated to HINDI, MARATHI, GUJARATI, BENGALI, KANNADA AND MALAYALAM.
SNAKEBITE TREATMENT PROTOCOL:
Dr Joseph K Joseph & Dr Manoj P Jose
Little Flower Hospital, Angamaly
News and opinion articles on snakebites:
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| Snake Temple in Rajastan |
.- Fieldwork in Ranthambore, Rajastan
.- One Million Snake Bites written by Janaki Lenin
.- Loss of life can never be compensated!
.- Effective Snakebite Management in Himachal Pradesh
.- The Rescue Paradox by Kedar Bhide
.- Dark fairy tale stories by Ashok Captain
.- "Halla Bol" penned by Priyanka Kadam
.- Snakebite interest Group on WhatsApp by Dr. Dayal Bandhu Majumdar
OTHERS...
QUICK LINKS
REFERENCE PAPERS:
Guidelines for Management of Snakebites David Warrell Click here
Improve Antivenom for Treatment of Snakebite in India Click here
Snakebite in India Current Reality Click here
Snakebite Mortality Survey by Mohapatra (2011) Click here
Warrell Etal Antivenom Improvement Click here
Who Article on Snakebites as a Neglected Disease Click here
Williams 2011 Ending the Antivenom Brought Click here
Currsci Venoms Antivenoms and Snakes of Med Imp RWSW Click here
Analysis of Snakebite Data Calicut Medical Journal 2006 4 Click here
Gutierrez et al 2014 Availability of Antivenom BullWHO Click here
Notes on Indian Venomous Snakes and First Aid Click here
Transporting Snake Bite Victims (Himachal Pradesh) Click here
Please take time to read each of the real stories portrayed. It is worth it. The perspective point from which we look at the world is what really gives direction to our lives. It is my opinion the scientist community should try include and give voice to the most unprivileged sectors of society for the best of humankind. Science devoid of heart is like "eating rocks" for the soul.
ॐ लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु ॥
Om Lokah Samasthah Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and peaceful
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