Kochi: In a significant move to enhance safety within schools, the Kerala High Court has issued a series of crucial directives aimed at tackling the growing problem of snakebites and related fatalities. The court has mandated that snakebite cases be declared a notifiable disease and has also emphasized the urgent need for the development of more effective antivenoms.
These directions were laid down by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Shoba Annamma Eapen. The bench was deliberating on two petitions that highlighted critical deficiencies in the medical care available for children who fall victim to snakebites in Kerala.
The impetus for these petitions stemmed from a tragic incident in November 2019, where a fifth-grade student died from a snakebite at a government school in Wayanad district’s Sulthan Bathery. This incident underscored the urgent need for a coordinated approach to school safety concerning snake encounters.
The court’s observation noted a distinct lack of a comprehensive policy to effectively coordinate the efforts of various government departments in addressing snakebite incidents within schools. It was also observed that many Indian states have already classified snakebite envenoming as a notifiable disease, which mandates the reporting of all such cases. This practice is vital for collecting reliable data, which is essential for developing effective policy interventions.
Currently, Kerala has not yet declared snakebite envenoming as a notifiable disease. The court pointed out a particular challenge: a significant number of snakebite cases in the state involve the Hump-nosed Pit Viper, for which a specific antivenom is not readily available.
The bench acknowledged the state government’s recent formulation of safety guidelines for schools in September, which include specific instructions for managing snakebite incidents. The court has directed the state government to issue a circular within two weeks, officially notifying these guidelines and ensuring their implementation across all schools in Kerala. Furthermore, the government is instructed to ensure these guidelines receive adequate publicity and that relevant departments and agencies receive clear instructions detailing their roles and responsibilities.
To ensure ongoing oversight and improvement, the court has stipulated that until a robust framework for monitoring and updating these safety measures is established, a joint committee will be formed. This committee will be responsible for reviewing and updating the safety norms and monitoring the progress of implemented actions.
In addition to these measures, the court has urged the state government to accelerate its efforts, in collaboration with relevant agencies, to develop antivenom vaccines effective against all venomous snake species found in the state.
The court has also directed the state government to take immediate steps to make snakebite cases and deaths a notifiable disease under the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, aligning with the instructions issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in November of the previous year, and to complete this process within two months.