Snakebite remains a serious public health threat in many endemic regions of Pakistan, particularly in the Thar Desert of Sindh province. The recent monsoon rains, while a blessing for agriculture, have also led to a surge in venomous snake encounters, especially in rural and farming communities. In Tharparkar, where agriculture resumes after rainfall, dozens of individuals have already been hospitalised due to snakebites.
According to Health Department officials, at least 63 snakebite victims are currently under treatment at District Headquarters Hospital in Mithi, while government hospitals across the district have also reported a spike in cases.
From January to July 2025, a total of 197 snakebite cases have been treated in public health facilities across the district. Most of these patients require immediate administration of the Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) vaccine, which neutralises the life-threatening neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects of snake venom. However, there is an alarming shortage of ASV vaccines in the region. Tharparkar, home to a variety of venomous snakes including vipers, has not received its required supply of ASV vaccines from the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad — the only facility in Pakistan that manufactures this life-saving treatment.
Due to this shortage, many Basic Health Units and rural hospitals are unable to meet the urgent demand. The situation is further aggravated by inadequate cold storage facilities in remote villages, many of which still lack electricity. As a result, patients must often be referred to faraway hospitals, causing dangerous delays in treatment.
The delay or unavailability of ASV treatment has already cost lives, especially among those living in remote desert villages. While timely administration of one or two doses of ASV can save lives, the current stockouts in Tharparkar’s healthcare system put countless lives at risk.
Local communities, and social activists are urgently appealing to both the Federal Government and the Government of Sindh to ensure an immediate and consistent supply of ASV vaccines to Tharparkar. These life-saving drugs are critical to preventing avoidable deaths and safeguarding the health of some of Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations.
Ali Nawaz Rahimoo
Umerkot
