Website For Snake-bite Management

[CharlieJ]

Website For Snake-bite Management
Source: The Hindu

CHENNAI : A website that aids management of snake bite victims was launched at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre here on Wednesday.

The website is part of the activities of the institution's snake bite research unit and aimed at providing the best first-aid technologies and treatment protocols for the use by doctors.

The site would enable clear identification of the snakes of Tamil Nadu, a guide to symptoms and venom and details the community research programme being carried out by the college. Stanford University's Associate Professor Robert L. Norris launched the website at a function held at the college premises.

In his address, SRM Vice-Chancellor P. Satyanarayanan said the institution was committed not only to providing best snakebite treatment, currently free of cost, but also the best community support material.Snakebites, he said, were socially relevant as 2.6 million people suffered from snakebites worldwide every year. The mortality rate stood at 125,000 of which India accounted for 50,000.

The college would establish an exclusive research centre for snakebite related diseases at an estimated cost of Rs.20 crore in partnership with foreign universities by this year-end, he said.

Pro Vice-Chancellor O. S. R. Sivaraman said the website was dedicated to doctors to provide the latest advice on snakebite treatment. Delivering a lecture on "initial management of poly trauma" Dr. Norris lauded the forward thinking of Tamil Nadu in dedicating such exclusive website for snakebites. Scientist Ian Simpson, SRM Pro-Chancellor P. Ravi and Director M. Ponnavaikko, among others participated.