{"id":77849,"date":"2025-12-14T10:35:33","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T05:05:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=77849"},"modified":"2025-12-16T15:11:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T09:41:25","slug":"snakebite-prevention-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/snakebite-prevention-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"ICMR Adopts Demow Model for National Snakebite Prevention Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Snakebite Prevention Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a <\/span><b>Rs. 13.5 crore<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, four-year multi-state implementation research project to develop a comprehensive national model to reduce snakebite deaths.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The initiative recognises the <\/span><b>Assam-based Demow Model<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a successful community-led framework and aims to scientifically validate and scale it nationwide.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>India\u2019s High Burden of Snakebite Deaths<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Snakebite envenoming (SBE) remains a major yet under-addressed public health issue in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The country <\/span><b>accounts for nearly 58,000 deaths annually<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the highest in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Snakebites primarily affect rural communities, agricultural workers, and tribal populations, especially in states such as Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite being a preventable cause of death, India faces persistent challenges:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delayed access to treatment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of community awareness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inadequate referral systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limited use of digital monitoring tools<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insufficient pre-hospital care<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ICMR\u2019s latest national initiative seeks to bridge these systemic gaps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Overview of the ICMR National Snakebite Research Project<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new ICMR-backed project, titled <\/span><b>\u201cZero Snakebite Death Initiative: Community Empowerment &amp; Engagement for Mitigation of Snakebite Envenoming,\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> aims to formulate a replicable community-based model for reducing mortality.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will be implemented across <\/span><b>seven states<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The research will be coordinated under <\/span><b>SARPA (Snakebite Awareness, Response, Prevention &amp; Action)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Key aspects:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multi-state implementation research<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Community empowerment and education<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improvement of pre-hospital and hospital care<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creation of a real-time digital dashboard for surveillance<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standardised data collection by appointed researchers and technical staff in each state<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research is scheduled to begin in <\/span><b>January 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>About Demow Model<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The selection of <\/span><b>Assam\u2019s Demow Model<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> marks a significant recognition of grassroots innovation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The model has shown notable success in Assam\u2019s Sivasagar district through strong community mobilisation and rapid referral systems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Core Features of the Demow Model<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High community participation with local volunteers acting as first responders<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A robust referral network to ensure that patients reach health centres within the \u201cgolden hour\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Awareness campaigns on preventing snakebites and first-aid dos and don\u2019ts<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Training of ASHA workers, schoolteachers, and village leaders<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collaboration with local hospitals such as Demow Hospital\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because of its strong outcomes, the model will now undergo scientific evaluation and may be scaled across multiple states.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Integration of Other State Models<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ICMR aims to create a composite national-level model by integrating successful practices from different regions. The research will evaluate and merge the strengths of:<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Maharashtra Model &#8211; Use of Protective Equipment<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distribution of gumboots and protective gear to high-risk agricultural communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Himachal Pradesh Model &#8211; Pre-hospital Anti-Snake Venom (ASV)<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Administration of ASV in ambulances during transport is a breakthrough in early treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Kerala Model &#8211; Digital Coordination Platforms<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use of real-time digital tools to track cases, guide referrals, and coordinate health services.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Together with the Demow Model, these elements form the backbone of a potential national strategy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Project Objectives<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Primary Objective<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop, pilot, and implement a nationally replicable community engagement model to prevent and manage snakebite envenoming.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Secondary Objectives<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase awareness and capacity among community members, health workers, and doctors.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve early referral and treatment-seeking behaviour.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establish a digital snakebite dashboard for high-quality surveillance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Generate evidence to support national policies on snakebite management.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Public Health Significance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Snakebite was officially recognised by the <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/world-health-organisation\/\" target=\"_blank\">WHO<\/a> as a <\/span><b>high-priority neglected tropical disease<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and India carries the largest global burden.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A national framework can help the country:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce preventable deaths<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve rural health systems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthen emergency preparedness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enhance community resilience<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given India&#8217;s varied ecosystems and agricultural practices, a multi-state, adaptable model is essential for long-term mitigation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source :<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/assam\/assams-demow-model-is-focus-of-icmr-project-for-zero-snakebite-deaths\/article70392572.ece#:~:text=The%20Demow%20Model%20from%20eastern,of%20Medical%20Research%20(ICMR).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TH<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nenow.in\/north-east-news\/assam\/icmr-picks-assams-demow-model-for-rs-13-5-crore-national-snakebite-research.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NENOW<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ICMR launches a \u20b913.5 crore research project to develop a national model for reducing snakebite deaths, inspired by Assam\u2019s Demow Model.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":77956,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,4199,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-77849","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-snakebite-prevention","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77849"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77849\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77956"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}