The New Town Development Authority (NKDA) has put in a request to the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) to offer treatment for snake bite. The request comes in the wake of two deaths from snake bites this monsoon in New Town.
“We have written to the institute director on Tuesday. They will need to orient their medical staff. We have offered to handhold them,” said an NKDA official. The NKDA had organised an online awareness programme for residents on Sunday evening. The suggestion had been made there.
The health department has also been requested to turn one of the five urban primary health centres (UPHC) in New Town into a 24x7 facility. Currently, they operate from 11am to 3pm. But a snake bite can happen beyond this period as well.
“We have recommended the Akankha More centre as the most suitable one for this,” the official said.
Anti-snake venom vials, which need to be injected in case of snake bite, have started being stored at three UPHCs — near the Newtown Business Club, Akankha More and New Town Mela ground. So long, Bidhannagar Subdivisional Hospital and Rekjuani Rural Hospital were the closest treatment centres.