August 27, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 2, 1427

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ATTOCK, Aug 26: Acute shortage of anti-rabies vaccine in government hospitals has increased the death risk from dog bite, particularly in the rural areas of the district. It has been learnt that on the average every day one or two persons are bitten by dog and cat, especially in the rural and mountainous areas where the overall health delivery system is very poor.

The victims, however, do not get proper treatment at government hospitals, rural health centres and basic health units because these institutions are not provided with any vaccine owing to paucity of funds. Even the district headquarters hospital faces shortage of such life-saving vaccines.

Syed Qulsam Shah, a low paid employee, said few days back his daughter was bitten by a cat and she was taken to the DHQ hospital for vaccination. After administering her two doses out of total 14 injections, the staff told him on the third day that he should purchase the same from the market as stock in the hospital had run out.

Due to the shortage of vaccine, doctors at other government hospitals have started referring patients to private hospitals for vaccination but the vaccine was out of the reach of the common man.

The anti-rabies vaccine is available for Rs4,000 to Rs5,000 in the open market.

Meanwhile, the number of stray dogs is on the rise due to the negligence of the municipal authorities. There are people whose job is to eliminate the rabid dogs but the population of the dogs is swelling without any check.