Kerala unveils action plan to end snakebite deaths by 2030
Kerala has unveiled a State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (SAPSE), setting a target of zero snakebite deaths and disabilities by
Kerala has unveiled a State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (SAPSE), setting a target of zero snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030—a goal the government says is aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) and national targets, and backed by “unwavering political commitment.” The plan, which has been built on the ‘One Health’ platform, focuses on strengthened primary care, improving emergency care facilities, enhanced surveillance and community awareness and intersectoral coordination, to address snakebite envenoming, which affects rural, tribal and agricultural communities in the State. An estimated 8,000 snakebite incidents are reported every year in the State. Kerala has already taken the significant administrative step required to put this plan into action by declaring snakebite as a notifiable disease under the Kerala Public Health Act, so that there is a real estimation of the magnitude of the problem. Tiered referral system At the core of the action plan is the reorganisation of health-care facilities into a tiered referral system for providing appropriate care to snakebite victims by avoiding treatment delays.
L1 centres will offer basic stabilisation and would be reachable within 30 minutes; L2 centres will have ICU support while L3 will be tertiary care centres equipped for ventilation, dialysis and plasmapheresis. The plan proposes that ideally, the focus should be on upgrading L1 and L2 centres as early care can prevent complications and fatalities. The care plan will be augmented with the setting up of a 24-hour State helpline for clinical guidance, facilitation of referrals, species identification and expanded ambulance coverage under the 108 service. The plan seeks to strengthen the availability and management of anti-snake venom (ASV) across the State through annual demand forecasting, uninterrupted procurement, improved cold chain facilities and monitoring of stocks in hospitals and better inventory management through digital tracking. Training doctors, nurses and emergency care personnel in the early recognition of snakebite envenoming, rational use of ASV, efficient management of allergic reactions and adherence to standard treatment protocols is another important area that the State will invest in when operationalising the action plan.
Data-driven approach Given the lack of granular data on snakebites, the new plan gives considerable emphasis on data-driven surveillance and management of cases. Snakebite notifications will be routed through a dedicated e-health platform and integrated with the Forest department’s snake rescue data and Health department’s other disease surveillance networks to generate risk maps, geographic hotspots and seasonal trends at the grassroots-level. The action plan gives much focus on snakebite prevention through sustained public awareness campaigns and safe practices. It has called for the expansion of two of the existing initiatives of the Forest department—Sarpa Paadam, a school and community awareness module, and Sarpa Rakshak, a trained network for safe snake rescue—alongside wider promotion of the SARPA mobile app for reporting sightings and rescues. The plan ropes in various departments—Forest & Wildlife, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture, Tribal Welfare, General Education, Local Self-Governments, Labour, and Home Affairs alongside the Health department to ensure inter-sectoral coordination through district and State-level task forces. As per the earlier directives of the High Court, schools and anganwadis will be required to run safety audits, maintain first-aid rooms and display emergency response plans.
The BriefWire