K'taka govt orders DCs to review audit of snake bite deaths to strengthen prevention programmes
Bengaluru, Apr 28 (PTI): The Karnataka government has authorised all Deputy Commissioners (DC) across districts to review the audit of the snakebite related deaths and take necessary measures to ensure effective implementation of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NPSE), officials said on Monday.
The move follows concerns raised by the health department, which stated that despite efforts to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to snakebite, the state "continues to face challenges in the implementation of the programme".
To address these challenges, the health department issued an order stating that the H1N1 death audit committee in the districts constituted under the official memorandum is also assigned with the responsibility of audit of deaths due to snakebite.
"All the Deputy Commissioners of the Districts are here by authorised to review the audit of the deaths due to snakebite in the committee already constituted under Official Memorandum. The Deputy Commissioners are here by directed to conduct review meetings of snakebite cases in the district at least once in every quarter and implementation of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming," it said in its official order.
In addition, the Deputy Commissioners of the districts have been directed to take necessary measures to correct the challenges noticed in the implementation of the NPSE.
According to the department, in Karnataka, the Snake Bite Prevention and Control Program was launched and implemented from 2023-24. On February 12, 2024, the state government declared snakebite deaths and cases notifiable under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act, 2020.
In 2023, Karnataka reported 6,596 cases of snakebites and 19 deaths. After snakebite cases and deaths due to it were declared as "Notifiable disease" last year, the state reported 13,235 cases and 100 deaths in 2024.
The health department highlighted various measures taken by the state to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to snakebite --- such as -- ensuring availability of Anti Snake Venom (ASV) in sufficient stock starting from PHC (Primary Health Center) to district hospitals. Issuance of SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) to administer initial loading dose of 10 vials for all snakebite cases with signs and symptoms of snake bite envenomation. Physicians and Medical officers were trained at different levels for managing the snakebite cases.
"Despite all these measures taken, state is facing some challenges in the implementation of the program," the health department said, pointing out that reporting of cases and deaths due to snakebites is not 100 per cent as some of the medical colleges and private hospitals are not reporting all cases or there is delay in reporting.
It also cited that snakebite victims still seek treatment from traditional faith healers leading to loss of precious time, which is the main cause of death as per death analysis.
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PM Modi holds talks with French President Macron in Mumbai
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held wide-ranging talks with French President Emmanuel Macron to boost ties in key sectors such as trade, defence, energy and critical technologies.
Macron landed in Mumbai early this morning on a three-day visit to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi and meet PM Modi.
After the talks with Modi, Macron will attend a ceremony to launch the India-France Year of Innovation.
His visit comes days after India cleared a long-pending proposal to procure 114 Rafale fighter jets under a government-to-government framework with France.
It has been billed as one of the world's biggest military procurement programmes in recent years.
It is learnt that shoring up defence cooperation and enhancing bilateral engagement in the critical technology sector are priority areas to take forward the ties.
"Welcome to India! India looks forward to your visit and to advancing our bilateral ties to new heights. I am confident that our discussions will further strengthen cooperation across sectors and contribute to global progress," Modi said on social media earlier in the day in response to a post by Macron.
