EMA & DHS work on Kerala Snake Bite Control

The Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Government of Kerala, organized a State-Level Intersectoral Meeting on 6 January 2025 at the Kerala State Institute of Health and Family Welfare (KSIHFW), Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram, as part of the preparation of the Kerala State Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming.

The meeting, convened as per the directions of the Additional Chief Secretary (Health), brought together local self-governing bodies, clinicians, administrators, educators and academic experts to contribute towards an evidence-based and coordinated state response to snakebite envenoming, a significant public health challenge in Kerala.

The Emergency Medicine Association (EMA) was represented at this state-level initiative by:

Dr. Nishanth Menon, Head of the Department, Emergency Medicine, MOSC Medical College, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Dr. Siju V. Abraham, Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Jubilee Mission Medical College, Thrissur and Director, Snakebite Life Support (SAVIOR and SAFETi courses), India

Both representatives actively participated in the deliberations, providing critical emergency care perspectives on prevention strategies, early recognition, referral pathways, and system-level strengthening of snakebite management across the state.

The participation of EMA members in the formulation of the Kerala State Action Plan highlights the central role of emergency medicine in snakebite care—from first medical contact and stabilization to referral and outcome optimization—and reflects EMA’s ongoing commitment to policy engagement, advocacy, and strengthening emergency care systems for high-impact public health conditions.

EMA Leaders have spearheaded the creation of the Snake Bite Life Support Training Program in Kerala for last two years.

https://www.indusem.org/blog/sbls-launched/

For More information: https://www.snakebitelifesupport.com/

About INDUSEM

The INDUSEM mission is to envision and implement the future of patient care across the world. This global partnership unites expert educators, innovative researchers, and physicians dedicated to safe patient care across India, the United States, and beyond. Recognized as one of the foremost international collaborations in healthcare, INDUSEM brings together institutions, individuals, and initiatives to advance medical education and practice. To date, it has engaged over 50,000 experts, and its reach continues to expand. For more information, visit www.indusem.org.

About EMA

The Emergency Medicine Association (EMA) was founded in 2015 during the INDUSEM World Congress of Academic Emergency Medicine in New Delhi. EMA serves as the official voice of emergency medicine professionals in India, advancing the development, practice, and progression of quality emergency care. Functioning as a guild of emergency leaders, EMA collaborates with partner organizations, institutions, and individuals worldwide, supported by the INDO-US Emergency and Trauma Collaborative, the Academic College of Emergency Experts in India, and the Academy for Clinical Emergency Nursing in India. For more information, visit www.emaindia.net.

About ACEE

The Academic College of Emergency Experts (ACEE) was founded by leaders of INDUSEM to establish a premier body of clinicians with mastery in safe, evidence-based patient care. Unique in Asia, ACEE grants fellowship only after rigorous evaluation, ensuring the highest standards of excellence in education and practice. Multiple fellowship pathways exist, including emergency medicine, emergency pediatrics, toxicology, and emergency nursing. For more information, visit www.acee-india.org.

About SBLS

The Snake Bite Life Support (SBLS) program was developed at Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institute, Thrissur, building on its legacy as a leading center for snakebite care and research in India where free antivenom is provided to victims, earning it the name “the poor man’s hospital.” Conceived to address snakebite envenoming—a neglected tropical disease that disproportionately affects the poor—SBLS provides a structured, evidence-based curriculum aimed at training healthcare professionals to deliver safe and effective care. SBLS is delivered through two complementary workshops: SAVIOR, focused on clinical management of snakebite in peripheral hospitals, and SAFETi, which introduces wilderness medicine and first-response skills for healthcare workers and field responders. By combining clinical excellence, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a One Health perspective, SBLS seeks to empower physicians, strengthen healthcare systems, and reduce the burden of snakebite mortality and morbidity in India and beyond. For more information, visit www.snakebitelifesupport.com.