BSV, a Mankind Group company, has stepped up its efforts to tackle India’s seasonal surge in snakebite cases by rolling out a nationwide ‘4A’ strategy focused on Awareness, Access, Availability and Action. The initiative comes as monsoon rains heighten snakebite risks in rural areas, with the company seeking to improve prevention, timely treatment and clinical outcomes through wider community outreach and uninterrupted access to quality-assured anti-snake venom (ASV).
The company said the strategy supports India’s broader public health goal of reducing snakebite mortality by 50 per cent by 2030. BSV noted that the Ministry of Health’s decision to classify snakebite as a notifiable disease is expected to strengthen surveillance, improve data collection and optimise ASV distribution across the country. The company also plans to expand medical training for healthcare professionals while promoting evidence-based first-aid practices to counter myths that often delay treatment.
BSV Chief Operating Officer (India Business) SivaniSarmaDeka said sustained community awareness, last-mile healthcare access, skilled rural medical personnel and adherence to government-prescribed Standard Treatment Guidelines are essential to reducing fatalities. Dr. Arindam Bhattacharya of Shantipur Government Hospital said India records nearly 58,000 snakebite deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization, underscoring the need for rapid diagnosis and immediate clinical intervention.
In Krishnanagar, the initiative is expected to enhance demand for organised healthcare services and strengthen the availability of life-saving anti-snake venom across hospitals and healthcare facilities during the monsoon season. As an agrarian region where field activity increases exposure to snakebites, improved ASV supply chains, healthcare preparedness and awareness campaigns could support better emergency response while reinforcing confidence in the region’s rural healthcare ecosystem.