KARACHI: Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said on that that the scope to control dog bite cases in Sindh will be expanded.
“This is a big problem which needs to be solved in all cases. There is no shortage of dog bite vaccination in Sindh. Under the program, 50 per cent vaccination of dogs has been targeted. The attempt to stop the local bodies elections is unfortunate but the polls would be held on time,” the Administrator expressed these views while addressing the inaugural function of Rabies Control Program organized by Sindh Rabies Control Program as a special guest at a local hotel here.
Secretary Local Government Najam Shah, Project Director Syed Afzal Zaidi, Dr. Abdul Bari, Dr. Naseem Salahuddin and others were also present on the occasion. Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that it is the responsibility of the government to control dog bite cases and we have to take this work forward.
“Wherever dog bites occur, accusations are leveled at the government, which is a local issue,” he added. He said that in one or two districts work has been seen more in terms of curbing dog bite cases, adding that there are more than one million stray dogs in Karachi.
“Now we have to look at all these things on a scientific basis for which an application is also being made so that all the things can be checked in time and a complaint be lodged immediately,” he added.
Nasir Hussain Shah said that although this is a difficult task and it will be criticized but we have to fulfill our responsibilities, Sindh is the first province where this program started and hopefully other provinces will follow this.
He said that Rs120 million has been released for dog vaccine out of which Rs.15 million are spent so far but it is wrong to give the impression that vaccine is not available. “Whatever resources are available will be spent on this work and this problem will be solved throughout the province,” he said.
The Local Government Minister said that in the light of global experiments, the breeding of dogs needs to be controlled on a scientific basis. He said that three centers have been set up, where dog’s reproductive system is paralyzed and anti-rabies injections are given.
“Trained persons are sent to the respective areas for this work and proper care of the animal is taken care of,” he added. Nasir Hussain Shah said that the presence of dogs will be confirmed through web and this process of vaccination will be done every year and it has to be repeated again and again.