DOS AND DON’TS

The Dugga family is also educating the villagers on how to save snakebite victims. “It’s been observed that it’s less the poison and more the lack of awareness that kills people who suffered snake bite,” Dugga said. In case of a snakebite, the thumb rule is to tie a single bone on the affected limb. He warned against running after snakebite, explaining that doing so would increase blood circulation and lead to death.

‘COBRAS DON’T LIKE TO WASTE VENOM’

He said the highly venomous cobra was his favourite as it did not like to waste its venom. He said the cobra bite mark was small and quantity of venom injected was less. “A cobra bite victim needs to be treated immediately as its venom kills in an hour or so,” he said.

‘MEDICAL STAFF INSENSITIVE’

Although the Lakhimpur Kheri district is well equipped with community health centres, the locals allege the medical staff are insensitive in handling snakebite cases. There are many who say the CHCs are illequipped with anti-venom vials and prefer referring the cases either to the district headquarters or to Lucknow. “People at CHCs’ seem the least sensitive to snakebite. I lost my wife to their insensitiveness,” said Sarfaraz Alam of Munshigarh, whose wife Imamzadi was bitten by a krait and died. “We rushed her to the CHC, where staff refused to admit her and asked me to take her to district hospital. She passed away soon after. Had they administered anti-venom vial, she could have been saved. Now I have a baby to look after,” he said. Sonu, 9, died after the community health centre referred him to the district hospital. “We took him to CHC in Ninghasan tehsil where the medical staff completed the formalities, injected a vial and referred him to district hospital. We lost him on way to the hospital,” said Mishrilal, Sonu’s uncle.

OVER 350 CASES IN 6 MONTHS

Lakhimpur Kheri district recorded 362 cases of snake bites in six months, confirmed Dr Matadeen, the additional chief medical officer (ACMO). The maximum cases, 114, were reported in Lakhimpur block. Dr Matadeen says “All CHC’s are well equipped with anti-venom vials.” There were thousands of cases that are never reported to the CHCs, locals said.

HELPLINE DEMANDED

S Mohammed Haider, a Lucknowbased social activist, has demanded a snakebite helpline and deployment of Quick Response Teams (QRTs) in the snake-infested districts of UP, including Lakhimpur Kheri.

He has given a representation to the principal secretary, department of medical, health and family welfare, UP.