Kerala unveils ambitious plan to eliminate snakebite deaths by 2030
Kerala has launched a comprehensive State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (SAPSE), setting a target of zero snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030. The initiative aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) and national goals, backed by what the government describes as 'unwavering political commitment'.
Developed on the 'One Health' platform, the plan aims to strengthen primary care, improve emergency services, enhance surveillance, raise community awareness, and foster inter-sectoral coordination. Snakebite envenoming primarily affects rural, tribal, and agricultural communities in the state, with an estimated 8,000 incidents reported annually.
Kerala has already declared snakebite a notifiable disease under the Kerala Public Health Act, a significant administrative step to accurately assess the magnitude of the problem.
The action plan's core is a tiered referral system to ensure timely care. L1 centres will provide basic stabilisation within 30 minutes, L2 centres will offer ICU support, and L3 tertiary care centres will handle ventilation, dialysis, and plasmapheresis. The focus is on upgrading L1 and L2 centres to prevent complications and fatalities.
Additional measures include a 24-hour state helpline for clinical guidance and referrals, species identification, expanded ambulance coverage under the 108 service, and improved anti-snake venom (ASV) management through annual demand forecasting, uninterrupted procurement, cold chain improvement, and digital inventory tracking.
Training for doctors, nurses, and emergency personnel in early recognition, rational ASV use, managing allergic reactions, and adhering to standard treatment protocols is a key investment area.
Emphasising data-driven surveillance, the plan integrates snakebite notifications into a dedicated e-health platform, linking with Forest department snake rescue data and other disease surveillance networks to generate risk maps and seasonal trends.
Prevention efforts include expanding existing Forest department initiatives such as Sarpa Paadam (school and community awareness module) and Sarpa Rakshak (trained network for safe snake rescue), along with promoting the SARPA mobile app for reporting sightings and rescues.
Multiple departments—Forest & Wildlife, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Tribal Welfare, General Education, Local Self-Governments, Labour, Home Affairs, and Health—will coordinate through district and state-level task forces.
Following High Court directives, schools and anganwadis must conduct safety audits, maintain first-aid rooms, and display emergency plans. Local bodies should include snakebite prevention in annual plans and provide protective gear and torches for farm labourers.
A separate Tribal Sub-Action Plan addresses the needs of forest-fringe and hill communities, who are more vulnerable due to delayed access to transport and healthcare.
