RAHIM YAR KHAN: A woman has died due to unavailability of rabies vaccine in the district while her husband and son are still under treatment.

Reports said a rabid dog had bitten Munawwar Bibi, her husband Muhammad Hashim, and son Akmal, at Chak 194/1-L, Cholistan, in Liaqatpur tehsil, some 88km from here, two weeks back.

The patients initially were taken to Liaqatpur Tehsil Headquarters Hospital but due to unavailability of rabies vaccine, they were shifted to Khanpur THQ Hospital which also did not have the vaccine.

Later, the three patients were shifted to a private clinic in Jetha Bhuta Town. They were given some treatment and sent home. In the wee hours of Tuesday, Munawwar Bibi expired but Hashim and Akmal were still under treatment.

Husband, son still under treatment

Liaqatpur THQ Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Yasin Malik told this correspondent that no such patients who were bitten by a rabid dog were brought to the hospital; however, adding that there was a shortage of rabies vaccine in the hospital for the last four months.

He said he had tried to purchase the vaccine from Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, and even from the private medicine companies but failed. He added he had written more than seven letters to the RYK deputy commissioner and health chief executive officer but to no avail.

Just like Liaqatpur Hospital MS, CEO health Dr Makhdoom Basharat Hussain also said he had written many letters to the Punjab Health Department for the vaccine but in vain and that he had also contacted the Sindh health department but they had a shortage of rabies vaccine there as well.

He said when he contacted the officials of the federal health department, they told him that manufacturing of the vaccine had been suspended and it would be available after the start of manufacturing.

Mr Hussain claimed that there was shortage of rabies vaccine in the whole country.

According to sources, a man had died at Khanpur THQ Hospital due to unavailability of rabies vaccine last month.

Deputy Commissioner Jamil Ahmed Jamil did not attend the call.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2018