Kerala rolls out action plan to combat snakebite deaths

The Kerala Health department has released a special action plan to prevent deaths from snakebite envenomation encompassing various aspects, including surveillance of snakebite cases and deaths, hotspot-mapping of public hospitals and strengthening of pre-hospital care and emergency services.

The plan emphasises strengthening surveillance of snakebite cases and related deaths in humans by improving data monitoring through the integrated health information platform (IHIP) and health management information system (HMIS) and the SARPA app. Hospitals receiving a higher number of snakebite cases will be “red-flagged” and provided with enhanced facilities for effective management.Hospitals which are red-flagged will be provided with enhanced facilities for snakebite management.