23 Oct 2017 | 04:30am IST
Dog menace and insensitive health departments
Citizen Rosario Menezes, Vasco
I was amazed to read a report in the newspaper on October 21, which highlighted that more than 2,000 cases of dog bite were recorded at the Hospicio Hospital, Margao within the last few months. This is utterly unacceptable state of affairs!
About a month ago a poor woman in my locality was attacked and severely bitten by stray dogs, while on her way to her work place. It is known that such class three severe bites must be immediately administered immunoglobulin followed by a full course of the anti Rabies vaccine.
When this poor woman reported to the Cottage Hospital, Chicalim for treatment, she was given a prescription and told to go and buy her own anti Rabies vaccine, even though there is a government proclamation in place that all victims of dog bite would receive anti Rabies vaccine issued by the government health centre.
How can she afford to pay for the expensive anti-rabies vaccine? Again, why should she, when there is a government directive to this regard.
Due to this incident and her inability to work, the woman lost wages for over ten days.
To make matters worse, three weeks later the woman was once again attacked by stray dogs and this time when she reported to the Cottage hospital for treatment she was told to go to the Goa Medical College for the vaccine.
It may be noted that on one hand authorities are not controlling the growing menace of stray dogs and on the other, the health department is not catering to the basic public health need of providing immunoglobulin and anti Rabies vaccine to all the unfortunate poor victims of stray dogs attacks.
This is a basic violation of citizens right to life, health, health care, violation of human rights, and a dereliction of duties by the health department.
The concerned authorities need to take appropriate steps to avoid such untoward situation in the future and municipalities must ensure that the growing dog menace is reduced by initiating proper procedure.
The government needs to issue proper guidelines to the health departments.
