KARACHI:
Vaccinating stray dogs is an effective way to control the increasing number of rabies patients. According to a recent report, 30,000 stray dogs have been vaccinated in Karachi alone — an initiative that the government carried out rather effectively. However, the programme, which was supposed to be extended to other districts of Sindh, has since slowed down considerably. The government now seems to have forgotten that the problem still exists. Many have instead resorted to killing these stray dogs by poisoning their food.
The shortage of rabies vaccine has further exacerbated the problem because in the case that a stray dog bites a person, he/she would need treatment at the earliest. There must be an adequate amount of rabies vaccine present so that patients do not suffer. To control this menace, the healthcare authorities should ensure the supply of rabies vaccine in all public hospital at an affordable price, and also continue vaccinating stray dogs as killing them is not the option. It is a sickening fact that the local government has killed 34,675 street dogs across Sindh — this must stop at all costs. I urge the government to enforce punishments on those that are killing street animals. Animal rights need to be upheld as they too are breathing creatures of God.
Iqra Karim
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13h, 2021.
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