Shuvosangho holds rabies-snakebite awareness meeting in Jashore

Bashundhara Shuvosangho’s Manirampur upazila branch on Thursday organised an awareness meeting for students on rabies and snakebites, urging them to seek prompt medical treatment and avoid superstition and unscientific practices.

The programme was held at Nagorghop Secondary School in Manirampur under the organisation’s slogan, “Shubho Kajey, Shobar Pashey” (standing by everyone in good causes).

The meeting was chaired by the branch president, SM Hafizur Rahman, and moderated by General Secretary Abdur Rahman Akash.

Among those who addressed the programme were the school's Head Teacher Md Abdul Majid, Assistant Head Teacher Santosh Pal, Senior Teacher Sutapa Rani Ray Chowdhury, former president of Manirampur Press Club Faruk Ahmed Liton, and Professor Mohammad Babul Akhtar, the Manirampur correspondent of Daily Kaler Kantho.

Other attendees included assistant teachers Milon Kumar Haldar, Khalilur Rahman, Zahurul Islam, Golam Rasul, Selina Akhtar, Faruk Hossain, Mahmudul Hasan, Mehedi Hasan and Jagannath Majumdar.

Vice-presidents of Bashundhara Shuvosangho's Manirampur branch Dr Habibur Rahman and Md Hadiuzzaman, Joint General Secretary Probir Sarkar and other members of the organisation were also present.

Head Teacher Abdul Majid said a wrong decision could sometimes cause a family lifelong grief.

“Students must not only be aware themselves but also raise awareness among their families and neighbours. Snakebites or animal bites should not be treated with fear but as medical emergencies requiring prompt treatment,” he said.

In his address, SM Hafizur Rahman said misconceptions and superstitions surrounding rabies and snakebites remained widespread.

“We want to dispel this darkness by spreading the light of awareness. Our hope is that not a single person will lose their life because of a visit to a traditional healer or other forms of unscientific treatment,” he said.

Speakers at the meeting advised students that anyone bitten or scratched by a dog, cat or jackal should not panic but immediately wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes.

They said medical advice should then be sought without delay and rabies vaccination taken at the prescribed times, as required.

Similarly, in the event of a snakebite, speakers urged people not to seek the help of traditional healers, herbal practitioners or resort to faith-based rituals, but to take the victim to hospital immediately.

They stressed the importance of receiving appropriate medical treatment and antivenom as advised by doctors. People were also advised not to apply ointments, pastes or any other unsafe substances to the bite site.

The speakers said prompt and proper treatment could play a vital role in saving lives in cases of both rabies exposure and snakebites, urging people to reject superstition and unscientific treatment and place their trust in evidence-based medical care.

They also called on students to share awareness about the issue with their families and wider communities.