TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Dog bit cases are on the rise in the Commercial capital with a rise in the stray dog population, but the Directorate of Health Services appears taking its own time to replenish stock of anti-rabies vaccines at Hospicio hospital.
In the absence of the anti-rabies vaccines, dog bit victims are being directed by Hospicio authorities to approach the primary health centres located on the outskirts of the city. It’s been nearly a week since the anti-rabies vaccines ran out of stock, but the replenishment is yet to come from the health services.
Hospicio authorities, when contacted, confirmed about the shortage of anti-rabies vaccines, but hastened to add that the supply is on its way and the problem should be resolved early next week.
“The hospital has already asked the Directorate of Health Services to supply fresh stock of anti-rabies vaccines. We now expect the supply to come by next week”, informed a senior Hospicio official.
Replying to a question, the official pointed out that the victims of dog bites are being directed to the primary health centres located on the periphery of Margao till the situation remains to normal.
Sources in the know said that dog bite cases are on the rise within the jurisdiction of the Margao Municipal Council.
The dog population have also witnessed a steady rise in the absence of concerted efforts by the Margao Civic body to tone up the infrastructure to meet the growing requirements.
A local NGO engaged in the sterilisation of strays under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program had been literally running from pillar to post to get the infrastructure strengthened. Right now, the dog shelter set up by the Civic body has a provision for only 20 cages, hardly adequate to attend to the massive problem staring at the city.
Mission Rabies have now planned to take the sterilisation program door-to-door by covering the pet dogs, only if the Civic body and the City Fathers conduct a census of pet dogs in their respective jurisdiction.
Hospicio authorities, when contacted, confirmed about the shortage of anti-rabies vaccines, but hastened to add that the supply is on its way and the problem should be resolved early next week
