Amid rising dog bites SDH Tral faces shortage of anti-rabies vaccine
Pulwama: Amid the rise in dog bite cases in Tral sub division of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, the sub district hospital Tral is facing shortage of anti rabies vaccine.
Sources said that four persons were injured by stray dog in Dadsara Tral two days back but when they visited the hospital for getting an anti rabies jab they were sent back as no vaccine was available at the health facility.
The victims alleged that amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown they were forced to visit Srinagar to get the anti rabies vaccine.
They said that poor people have been suffering for want of anti rabies vaccine but administration is in slumber as no effort is being made to procure the jabs.
Shabir Ahmad a local resident said that he was bitten by a stray dog in winter but due to non-availability of anti-rabies he had to visit DH Pulwama three times to get the protective shots.
As per official data, over 250 persons have been bitten by stray dogs in last one year in Tral but the SDH is facing shortage of anti rabies vaccine from last six months.
Locals requested the authorities to make the anti-rabies shots available at an earliest so that people do not suffer.
A health official confirmed that the last dose of anti-rabies was given in November last year at SDH and since then they are yet to get fresh supply.
He said that they have taken up issue with higher ups and hopefully it will be made available soon.
Jahangeer Ganaie
