Third International Snakebite Awareness Day Celebrations – 18th September
The 4thInternational Snakebite Awareness Day, was observed by the Clinical Toxicology Unit and Poisons Information Centre, Department of Medicine Unit-I on September 18, 2021. Weeklong activities were held with the aim of increasing awareness about snakebite prevention and appropriate first aid care amongst communities in and around Vellore.
The Annual Snakebite Survivors’ Meet was held via zoom for Tamil and Telugu-speaking patients, who had presented to CMC over the past year with snakebite envenoming. Virtual scientific sessions were organized in 15 schools in and around Vellore district which were attended by close to 1000 school students and their teachers. Titled, “Snake biology – A Primer”, the interactive sessions aimed to introduce children to snakes, their ecology and conservation and create awareness of the public health problem of snakebites. Key aspects of snakebite prevention and appropriate first-aid were also discussed. A commemorative programme was held on the 18th of September where Dr. S.P. Kalantri, Director and Professor of Medicine at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram delivered the keynote address entitled -”Challenges and prospects of snakebite management in India.”
A new addition to the activities this year was a Poster Designing Competition for school, medical and nursing students. The theme was “Snake Conservation”. The competition saw enthusiastic participation by students in each category.
