LAHORE, June 24: The World Health Organization with the help of the Punjab health department has planned to launch a comprehensive Rabies Control Programme in Punjab.

WHO National Programme Officer Dr Qaid Saeed, Dr Zarafshan Tahir, Dr Mubashar A Malik and Dr Babar Alam told reporters on Friday that according to a 2010 report of the National Health Management Information System at least 97,000 cases of dog bite cases were registered in the country.

These cases have been reported at the Basic Health Units only while those managed by the secondary and tertiary care health facilities are still not recorded.

Similarly, about 80 per cent cases managed by private practitioners, spiritual healers and hakims are not being registered.

They said the WHO in 2004 had estimated that 17 deaths per million in Pakistan were caused by rabies while only 469 per million were treated with the recommended vaccine for prevention of rabies.

“Theses figures showed an alarming trend in our population where most of them are either unaware of the risk of this disease when they are bitten by rabid dogs or do not seek a proper treatment for its prevention”, said Dr Qaid.

He said the rabies was a neglected disease on the part of the government despite the dog bite incidents were on the high.

In Punjab, there is only one dedicated dog bite treatment centre where more than 200 cases are reported daily.

He said a comprehensive strategy was being evolved for the next two years to combat this menace with the coordination of three departments – the Livestock, the Health department and the Local Government.

He said that dog-bite centres would be established at each district headquarters hospital of the province.

Dr Qaid said the cost-effective vaccination would be provided at all the designated rabies centres.

The enforcement of laws relating to vaccination of pet animals would be ensured in order to decrease rabies incidents he said.

A mechanism would be introduced to decrease the stray dog population in districts through the use of modern techniques, he said.