Villagers bitten by snakes once rushed to snake charmers (ojha) and folk healers. Chanting, amulets and superstition delayed treatment, and many died. That picture has begun to change in Bochaganj, Dinajpur, where the Bochaganj Upazila Health Complex is now the first place snakebite patients turn to.

In just 32 days, 31 snakebite patients recovered after treatment at the hospital, four of them bitten by highly venomous cobras. Timely antivenom, quick decisions by doctors and coordinated care brought them all back to health, the hospital said.

With this run of successes, the health complex has become known as a reliable snakebite treatment centre not only in the upazila but in surrounding areas too.

Most recently, on the afternoon of Wednesday, 5 August, Sadia Akter, 17, wife of Bochaganj easybike driver Tarikul Islam, was bitten while trying to break up a fight between a dog and a cat in her yard.

Her family took her straight to the health complex without trying any charm or local remedy. Medical officer Dr Md Abdullah Ibne Enam and other doctors identified the bite marks and kept her under close observation. When neurological signs of poisoning appeared, antivenom was given promptly under the national treatment protocol, and Sadia made a full recovery.

Earlier, Sadequl Islam, 21, of Dafchai village on 25 July, Sujan Chandra Roy, 27, of Jaogaon village on 10 July, and Prokrito Chandra Roy, 43, of Targaon village in Kaharol upazila on 4 July were bitten by cobras and recovered after treatment at the same hospital.

Under the overall supervision of the upazila health and family planning officer, doctors, nurses and other health workers run snakebite treatment at the hospital as a team. The complex currently has enough antivenom in stock and provides emergency care 24 hours a day.

Resident medical officer Dr Md Abdullah Ibne Enam said that despite limited resources, the right decisions, quick treatment and strong teamwork had made it possible to cure patient after patient. "After three successful treatments in a row, we saved another life on Wednesday. Even if you cannot identify or did not see the snake, coming straight to hospital without wasting time is the biggest key to saving a patient's life," he said.

He said 29 snakebite patients were admitted to the hospital between 4 July and 5 August, four of them bitten by cobras, and all four are now well. "The smile of relief on relatives' faces as each patient goes home is our greatest reward," he said.

Bochaganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Bijoy Kumar Roy said the most important thing after a snakebite is to come to hospital quickly without charms, superstition or delay, because with timely, correct treatment and antivenom where needed, most snakebite patients can be cured.

Beyond the government allocation, Bochaganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Maruf Hasan has been helping by supplying antivenom to the hospital through his own initiative.

He said snakebite cases had increased in the upazila. Many patients reach the hospital but cannot afford to buy antivenom, and sometimes the medicine is not available at upazila level, which delays the start of treatment.

In view of this, antivenom is being supplied to the hospital through the upazila parishad, and fresh stock will be provided whenever the hospital's supply runs low. The UNO said this benefits patients and lets doctors and nurses treat them quickly, saving many valuable lives.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.