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India's Snakebite Crisis: New ICMR Project Targets Zero Deaths
13 Dec
Summary
- ICMR launched a four-year, ₹13.5 crore project to prevent snakebite deaths.
- The project will study and scale up proven regional strategies like the Demow Model.
- The initiative aims to reduce India's estimated 58,000 annual snakebite fatalities.
India is launching a significant four-year initiative to address the public health challenge of snakebite envenoming, with a substantial ₹13.5 crore sanctioned by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). This project, named the Zero Snakebite Death Initiative, aims to create a unified and effective national strategy to prevent and manage snakebite incidents.
The research will span seven states, analyzing and integrating successful regional approaches. Notably, the Demow Model from Assam's Sivasagar district, emphasizing community engagement and referral networks, will be a focal point. Other strategies include protective equipment distribution, on-transport anti-venom, and digital surveillance tools.
Scheduled to commence in January 2026, the initiative, operating under the banner SARPA (Snakebite Awareness, Response, Prevention, and Action), seeks to bridge the gap between communities and healthcare systems. The goal is to drastically reduce the estimated 58,000 annual snakebite deaths in India through robust evidence-based implementation.
