National Snakebite Strategy of Bangladesh
Abstract:
Considering the importance of snakebite as a public health problem the Non-communicable Disease Control Program of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh developed and approved the National Snakebite Strategy and Costed Action Plan 2023-2028 in line with the WHO global and regional strategy on snakebite mitigation. The strategy contains four objectives and twenty seven strategies, and several activities under each objective. The objectives are: empowering and engaging the community, ensuring effective safe treatment including antivenom, making the health system more effective, and partnerships, coordination and institutional development. Snakebite prevention and control is part of universal health coverage and a right based issue. Subject to the availability of resources and fund it is expected that once implemented Bangladesh will be able to achieve the target of 50% reduction of death and disability following snakebite by the year 2030.