KARACHI, May 19: The anti-rabies vaccine supplied by the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, to Sindh has always proved insufficient to meet the requirements in Sindh.

Therefore, the Sindh Health Department will buy the vaccine worth Rs15 million from the open market.

This was stated by the provincial health minister, Ahsan Ahmed, at a meeting with the additional health secretary (procurement) and other officials.

He was informed that necessary formalities in this regard had been completed in February and supply orders issued.

The minister directed that 31,915 vials should be purchased which would be sufficient for 6,383 victims of dog-bite.

It was stated that 20,000 vials would be received as first consignments by the end of May, and remaining would be procured during the next fiscal year.

The minister observed that the vaccine purchased from the market is technically better than the one supplied from the National Institute.

This administration dosage is only five injections, as against the 14 injections which are administered with the NIH vaccine.

Mr Ahmed pointed out that regular campaigns should be launched to catch pye dogs.

He said that no campaign was launched despite the fact that he wrote several letters to the municipal bodies and their responsible officials.

The minister called for immediate start of an anti-pye dog campaign throughout the province of Sindh.—APP