Dr. Mahendra Raj Neupane, medical superintendent of the hospital, told Republica that the supply is negligible as compared to the number of patients they encounter every day.
"50 vials won´t be enough to treat three patients. We don´t know why the government has reduced the amount of vials we had demanded when the cases of snakebite is comparatively high in Chitwan," said Neupane. [break]
However, the doctors have taken a sigh of relief after Nepal Red Cross Society sub-branch Damak provided 100 vials of these vaccines to the hospital recently.
Just last Thursday, a person bitten by a snake died while he was being rushed to Kathmandu for medical treatment. Had the hospital had enough anti venom vaccines, Purna Bahadur Pariyar of Bharatpur municipality Ward number 14 could have been saved.
"Pariyar´s death was a big blow for Bharatpur hospital," said Hari Prasad Neupane, Secretary at Nepal Red Cross Society sub-division Chitwan. Neupane is also a member of the hospital´s management committee.
With 20 more vials of anti-venom vaccines provided by Pokhara Health Directorate, the hospital has received a total of 200 vials, informed Neupane.
According to Neupane, at least five patients suffering from snakebite come to the hospital on a daily basis.
"There is no alternative treatment for these patients. If they are not injected with anti-venom vaccines immediately, their chances of living become very low," said Neupane.
Neupane further shared that Nepal Red Cross Society is planning to open a treatment center for snakebite victims in Chitwan in the coming days.
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