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New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) – The Indian government has unveiled ZooWIN, a new digital platform designed to provide real-time monitoring of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and anti-snake venom (ASV) stocks and their administration across the country. This initiative aims to streamline healthcare services and improve access to vital treatments.
The ZooWIN portal, developed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) through its Centre for One Health, with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will operate similarly to the Co-WIN and U-WIN platforms. This centralized system will enhance collaboration between healthcare providers, municipal authorities, and veterinary services, ensuring efficient distribution and tracking of these essential medical supplies.
The platform will initially be launched as a pilot program in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh. This strategic rollout will allow for thorough testing and refinement before nationwide implementation.
The need for such a system is critical, as India accounts for approximately 36% of the over 60,000 global rabies deaths annually, according to the UNDP. Additionally, the country faces approximately 50,000 fatalities each year due to snake bites.
ZooWIN leverages the digital infrastructure of the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) and U-WIN platforms, which are already in use for the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). This integration will ensure the timely administration of ARV, anti-rabies serum (ARS), and ASV to animal and snake bite victims, with real-time tracking and follow-up.
“The primary aim of ZooWIN is to ensure availability of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV), anti-rabies Serum (ARS) and anti-snake Venom (ASV) in health facilities through real-time monitoring and to ensure the timely administration of the ARV, ARS and ASV doses to animal and snake bite victims through real-time-tracking and follow up,” an official source explained.
The platform will also assist individuals in rural and underserved areas in locating health centers that stock ARV or ASV. This improved accessibility is crucial for timely treatment and prevention.
To further enhance access to rabies and snake bite related information and treatment, the NCDC, in collaboration with UNDP India, launched a dedicated helpline – 15400 – last year in the five pilot states.
The government has also taken steps to address the snakebite crisis through the “National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming” (NAPSE), aiming to halve snakebite-related deaths and disabilities by 2030. The Ministry of Health has also urged states to make snakebite cases and deaths a “notifiable disease.”
A one-day training session for state health officials from the pilot regions was conducted in New Delhi on March 28, with further training at state and district levels planned before the platform’s full implementation.
“In India, inadequate public awareness, low vaccination coverage for dogs and a limited post-exposure prophylaxis facilities have contributed to a persistent rabies crisis. It is especially prevalent in areas where frequent human interaction with stray or domesticated dogs occurs,” the UNDP stated.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by PTI. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, readers are advised to verify information from official sources. The health related data provided here is for informational purposes only, and should not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for any health concerns.(https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2025/03/31/del12-health-antivenom.html)
