The Sundarbans is a landscape defined by the delicate, often difficult overlap of human life and wild spaces. Among the many challenges faced by these forest-fringe communities, snakebite remains one of the most overlooked crises. Every year, thousands face the risk of encounters with venomous species. For these remote villages, lack of awareness and reliance on traditional, often dangerous myths can turn a manageable accident into a tragedy.
We felt that in this landscape it is important to move beyond just awareness to create a sustainable ecosystem of safety and coexistence. It is exactly with this intention that HEAL with support from @upadhyayafoundation stepped forward to champion a transformative initiative that turns fear based reaction to snakes into informed action thereby mitigating conflict.
In the last one year, through the steadfast support of the Foundation, we have achieved milestones that represent a total shift in community safety:
🐍 4,200+ villagers empowered to identify venomous species and prevent bites.
🐍 193 ASHA workers trained in life-saving first aid and and safe rehabilitation of snakebite victims
🐍 95 village doctors upskilled in globally accepted medical standards to treat snakebite victims.
🐍 For the first time, 30 traditional healers (ojhas) educated to prioritise Anti-Venom Serum.
🐍 51 snakes safely rescued and released back into their natural habitats.
🐍 10 permanent signboards installed to provide emergency contact and guidance.
🐍 2 Rapid Response Teams established for 24/7 community support.
By empowering the first responders – the health workers, village doctors, and the residents themselves we are ensuring that a snakebite no longer has to be a tragedy and both people and wildlife can coexist in safety.