Kerala unveils action plan to end snakebite deaths by 2030

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Publication date: 2026-07-20 13:16:21

Kerala unveils action plan to end snakebite deaths by 2030

The plan, built on the ‘One Health’ platform, focuses on strengthened primary care, improved emergency facilities, enhanced surveillance, community awareness, and intersectoral coordination to address snakebite envenoming.

Published – July 20, 2026 06:46 pm IST – Thiruvananthapuram

By The Hindu Bureau

Representational image

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. The government says this goal aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) and national targets and is backed by “unwavering political commitment.”

The plan, built on the ‘One Health’ platform, focuses on strengthening primary care, improving emergency care facilities, enhancing surveillance, promoting community awareness, and ensuring intersectoral coordination. It aims to address snakebite envenoming, which disproportionately affects rural, tribal, and agricultural communities. An estimated 8,000 snakebite incidents are reported annually in the state.

Kerala has already taken a significant administrative step by declaring snakebite a notifiable disease under the Kerala Public Health Act, enabling a more accurate estimation of the problem’s magnitude.

Tiered referral system

At the core of the action plan is the reorganisation of healthcare facilities into a tiered referral system to provide appropriate care and avoid treatment delays:

• L1 centres: Offer basic stabilisation and should be reachable within 30 minutes.
• L2 centres: Provide ICU support.
• L3 centres: Tertiary care facilities equipped for ventilation, dialysis, and plasmapheresis.

The plan proposes that the focus should ideally be on upgrading L1 and L2 centres, as early care can prevent complications and fatalities.

The care plan will be augmented by:

• A 24-hour state helpline for clinical guidance, referral facilitation, and species identification.
• Expanded ambulance coverage under the 108 service.

Strengthening anti-snake venom supply

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.
• Monitoring of hospital stocks and better inventory management via digital tracking.

Training and capacity building

Training doctors, nurses, and emergency care personnel is another key area of investment. Training will focus on:

• Early recognition of snakebite envenoming.
• Rational use of ASV.
• Efficient management of allergic reactions.
• Adherence to standard treatment protocols.

Data-driven approach

Given the lack of granular data on snakebites, the plan emphasises data-driven surveillance and case management. Snakebite notifications will be routed through a dedicated e-health platform and integrated with:

• The Forest department’s snake rescue data.
• The Health department’s other disease surveillance networks.

This integration will help generate risk maps, geographic hotspots, and seasonal trends at the grassroots level.

Prevention and community awareness

The action plan focuses heavily on snakebite prevention through sustained public awareness campaigns and safe practices. It calls for expanding two existing Forest department initiatives:

• Sarpa Paadam: A school and community awareness module.
• Sarpa Rakshak: A trained network for safe snake rescue.

The plan also promotes wider use of the SARPA mobile app for reporting sightings and rescues.

Intersectoral coordination

The plan involves multiple departments—Forest & Wildlife, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Tribal Welfare, General Education, Local Self-Governments, Labour, and Home Affairs—alongside the Health department. Coordination will be ensured through district and state-level task forces.

Following earlier High Court directives:

• Schools and anganwadis will be required to conduct safety audits, maintain first-aid rooms, and display emergency response plans.
• Local bodies must include snakebite prevention in their annual plans and provide funds for protective gear and torches for farm labourers.

Vulnerable sections

A separate Tribal Sub-Action Plan has been developed for forest-fringe and hill communities, who remain more vulnerable due to delayed access to transport and continued reliance on traditional healers.