LAYYAH:Up to 2,459 people have been treated for dog bite in the districts in the first 106 days of the year, of them 1,339 were treated at government health facilities, while the remaining preferred private treatment, and on average each case had to buy anti-rabies vaccine for Rs5,000.

This correspondent gathered data on dog bites from the health department and the only dealer of anti-rabies vaccine in the district. Up to 1,339 people, including women and children, were brought to government-run hospitals for dog bite treatment in the first 106 days of the year.

According to data available with the health department, on average 10 people were struck by stray dogs in the first quarter of this year. Up to 1,120 people have both anti-rabies vaccine from the dealer in the district.

As per the health department record, 127 people were treated in the Layyah District Headquarters Hospital alone. Another 371 victims reported dog bite at the Chowk Azam Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, 100 in the Thal hospital, 172 at the Kot Sultan THQ Hospital, 199 in Fatehpur, 135 at the THQ hospital of Karor and 99 people from different rural areas of the district received the medicines.

The data available with the vaccine retailer shows that more than 1,000 bought vaccine from the open market while 120 people bought it from the medical stores.

The Chowk Azam THQ Hospital received the most dog victims. Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Aslam says the people of Rafiqabad have been contacting the hospital for the vaccine for several months.

In March, 10-year-old Moazma, of Chak 224-TDA, died due to dog bite in the Fatehpur THQ Hospital. On April 15, three-year-old Infaal Bibi was attacked by stray dogs. She is now being treated at the Fatehpur THQ Hospital.

“If the district admin starts the campaign for the elimination of wild stray dogs, many exchequers and people will save huge amounts of money which they incur due to purchase of expensive rabies vaccine.” says Malik Kamran, a prominent health worker.

Also, up to 10 per cent of the motorcycle accidents have occurred due to stray dogs, the data from the Punjab emergency services revealed.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2020