LARKANA: Eight people were injured when they were bitten by stray dogs in and around Larkana villages on Saturday.
They affected include four-year Husna daughter of Nasim Ali, 13-year Sara daughter of Hazoor Bux, 22-Azhar son of Gul Muhammad, 24-year Mujahida daughter of Akhtar Ali, 45-year Muhammad Qasim Jatoi, 53 year Ali Muhammad son of Pehlwan Joyo, Munir son of Rasul Bux and 68-year Shama Khatoon daughter of Qamardin.
They all were brought to the Dog Bite and Vaccination Centre of the Chandka Medical College Hospital individually and were provided Anti-Rabies Vaccines (ARV) along with treatment. According to the centre authorities the affected persons came from Larkana city, Ratodero, Bakrani, Areeja, Garello and other villages and after treatment they all were allowed to go home.
Meanwhile, this Scribe obtained Centre’s performance figures. According to the statistics, in the month of March 2020, as many as 2,744 patients were provided ARV out of which 839 were new cases; in April, 225 patients were vaccinated out of which 706 were new, in May 1803 patients received treatment out of which 583 were new cases and in the month of June, 2,160 cases reached the Centre out of which 615 were new cases. As many as 253 dog bite cases belonged to other districts which too were provided a vaccine at this Centre during the same period which shows that a very alarming situation prevails in Sindh and the civic agencies have done nothing to carry out vigorous campaigns to eliminate stray dogs and fulfill their legal and moral obligations.
In the month of October, as many as 942 cases were treated and a number of new dog bite cases remained 304 in Larkana taluka alone. Likewise Bakrani cases were 347 and 113 were new. 566 cases were reported and treated from Ratodero taluka and 171 were new and 180 cases of Dokri were provided vaccines and 54 were new. In this way 25 dog bite cases from other districts also reached here and were all vaccinated. The affected people have demanded to ensure availability of ARV in their respective so that travelling costs could be saved in this massive price-hike era.