Snakebite worry for Kerala
Seven lives perished due to snakebite in the last week alone. Two elderly people were victims on Sunday, including 70-year-old Nafeesa in Kannur and 86-year-old Visalakshi in Idukki. Apart from this, incidents of snakebite have grown rapidly in the state in the last few days.
The deaths of eight-year-old Aljo from Thrissur and eight-year-old Dikshal from Chirayinkeezhu due to snakebite have put the locality into grief.
On Sunday alone, 16 people sought the services of 108 after being bitten by snakes in the state. Reports of snakebites are coming from all districts of Kerala. Most victims were attacked by the reptiles while sleeping, cleaning the premises, or even while walking through the gardens at the resort.
Meanwhile, it is commendable that the government decided to bear the entire medical expenses of 10-year-old Anoj, who is undergoing treatment for a snakebite in Thrissur. On the 19th, Anoj and his brother Aljo were bitten by a snake while sleeping on the ground at their house in Kodaly, Thrissur. Aljo's life could not be saved. Experts say that snakes, unable to bear the heat, have wriggled out of their burrows and are hiding in human habitats. It is not surprising that complaints have also been raised that the treatment of snakebite victims is dragging on in hospitals, given the dire situation. Government doctors themselves admitted that simply releasing a list of hospitals with antivenom for snakebites will not do enough to quell tensions.
The increase in snakebite deaths is being blamed on the lack of adequate treatment and the denial of treatment in taluk hospitals. If ventilators, ICUs and other proper monitoring facilities are not available in lower-tier hospitals, administering antivenom will put the patient at risk. Inadequate facilities can lead to fatal allergic reactions and the patient losing their life. Therefore, adequate life-saving equipment and doctors are needed to provide 24-hour service. The shortage of doctors is a major problem that needs to be addressed immediately. For snakebite treatment, at least two doctors should be made available in the emergency department.
Instead of creating new posts, the government should take steps to meet the emergency by making temporary appointments. Similarly, it should ensure that hospitals where antivenom is available have ICU ventilator facilities.
Dikshal, who was bitten by a snake in Chirayinkeezhu, was first taken to Chirayinkeezhu Taluk Hospital. From there, he was referred to the Medical College without being administered antivenom. Dikshal died on the way. The Health Department should take steps on a war footing to prevent such incidents from recurring. Most departments in government hospitals are suffocating due to overcrowding. Pathetic situations where patients in critical condition get ignored due to the unavailability of doctors are a disgrace to the profession itself.