Desk Report,
Instructions to send snake venom antidote antivenom to upazila level
The High Court has ordered to immediately send antivenom to the government health complexes at the upazila level. This order has been given to the respondents including the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services and the Director General of the Directorate General of Drug Administration. Antivenom is used as an antidote to the venom of poisonous animals (such as snakes).
Instructions to send snake venom antidote antivenom to upazila level
The High Court bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Syed Zahed Mansur passed the order along with the rule on Monday after the initial hearing of a writ petition. The respondents have been asked to submit a report to the court on October 28, stating the progress of the implementation of the directive, Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman said. He told Prothom Alo that antivenom has been ordered to be sent to all upazila levels. Sending it at the upazila level means it will be sent to the upazila health complexes.
Earlier, a report titled ‘Death due to snake bite, a silent crisis in the health sector’ was published in a national daily on July 17. Earlier, on July 10, an online report titled ’38 people die from snake bites in 5 months’ was published. Adding to such reports in the media, Supreme Court lawyer Mir AKM Nurunnabi filed the writ yesterday, Sunday, which was heard today, Monday.
Lawyer Mir AKM Nurunnabi himself heard the writ in court. Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman and Tanim Khan and Assistant Attorney General Ikramul Kabir were present at the hearing for the state.
Later, lawyer Mir AKM Nurunnabi told Prothom Alo that snake infestation increases in Bangladesh, especially in rural areas during the monsoon season. A large number of people fall victim to snake bites and die. More than 7,500 people die every year and 20 people die every day, according to media reports. Therefore, the writ was filed in the public interest. Antivenom is available only at the district level, not at the upazila level. The court issued a rule after the hearing and directed the respondents to deliver the antidote to snake venom vaccine antivenom to every upazila level within a very short time.
The rule sought to know why the inaction and failure of the respondents to ensure adequate antivenom in specific upazila health complexes and district hospitals in rural areas should not be declared illegal. The rule also sought to know why the respondents should not be directed to ensure immediate supply of antivenom to all upazila health complexes and district hospitals. The respondents, including the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services and the Director General of the Directorate General of Drug Administration, have been asked to respond to the rule.
