A government hospital in Hatía, an island upazila of Noakhali, administered anti-snake venom for the first time and saved an eight-year-old child bitten by a venomous snake. The child, Rahat, son of Firoz Uddin from Ward 7 of Sonadia Union, was bitten at about 7pm on 26 July while going to Maghrib prayers. He was admitted to Hatía Upazila Health Complex around midnight after his condition did not improve.

Medical Officer Dr Rabiul Hossain Niloy said examinations identified multiple signs of venomous snakebite, including broken neck sign, ptosis and unconsciousness. A 20-minute clot observation test confirmed envenomation. The medical team consulted the upazila health and family planning officer and the resident medical officer before administering antivenom with the father’s consent.

Firoz Uddin said he had initially sought help from local traditional healers but saw no improvement, and that his son is now substantially better after treatment. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Manoshi Rani Sarkar called it the first antivenom administration in the health complex’s history and said staff involved performed their duties sincerely. She said instructions were issued to continue such emergency care more efficiently in the future.