Health department devises action plan to prevent snakebite deaths

Thiruvananthapuram: To prevent snakebite deaths, the health department has devised a special action plan, said health minister Veena George. Measures will be strengthened to monitor snakebite cases more efficiently. Based on available data related to snakebites, hospitals will be mapped as hotspots. Hospitals receiving more snakebite victims will be flagged as ‘red-flagged institutions' and will be provided with additional facilities. Snakebites will be reported with social-based monitoring, and any delays in treatment will be specifically observed, the minister stated.Hub and spoke system: Hospitals will be organised in a hub-and-spoke model to make the referral system more efficient. Anti-venom will be made available at remote PHCs/CHCs where it is difficult to reach hospitals with anti-venom quickly. Primary care centres and referral hospitals will be strengthened, and more treatment facilities will be ensured in ‘red-flag' areas. Special treatment protocols will be implemented for snakes like the hump-nosed pit viper and Malabar pit viper. Doctors will be familiarised with snake images, and nurses will receive laryngeal mask airway training. Community participation and ‘one health' approach: Workers should be provided with safety equipment such as gumboots and rubber gloves. Community-based reporting systems will be developed and awareness programmes will be organised. The involvement of local self-governing bodies will be increased to strengthen snakebite prevention activities. Strong awareness: Strong awareness campaigns will be conducted. Teachers will be educated with the help of volunteers. Educational videos will be prepared through school social media clubs. Training programmes will be organised. Unified IEC materials will be developed at the state level, and the inclusion of snakebite prevention in the curriculum will be recommended. In 2025, 8,456 vials of anti-snake venom were distributed across 133 hospitals, of which 6,382 vials were administered to patients. Anti-venom was made available in 13 more govt hospitals compared with last year. Currently, anti-venom is available in 151 govt hospitals and 150 private hospitals. Additionally, steps were taken to accurately transport patients to hospitals with anti-venom through the Kaniv 108 ambulance service. Since the service started, 75 snakebite victims and 62 suspected cases have been transported to hospitals in a timely manner within five days.