Another minor boy mauled by dogs in Larkana

Four dogs attacked the boy whose father says at least 10 children in the area have been bitten in recent days

NAUDERO/ KARACHI: n eight-year-old boy was attacked by four stray dogs in village Kubro on Wednesday when he was returning home after school. The boy, identified as Muzammil, son of Iqbal Junejo, was eventually rescued by his cousins. He was, however, severely injured by then, and was shifted to Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana, where he got 17 stitches on his legs and arms.

Speaking to the media, the victim’s father, a primary school teacher, said that at least 10 children had been attacked by stray dogs in recent days. The villagers also filed a complaint with Union Council Chairperson Saddaruddin Morio but he took no steps to eliminate stray dogs, said the concerned father. The children are panicked and afraid of leaving their homes, he said, adding that attendance in schools has dropped due to the fear of stray dogs.

Every hour, dogs bite 26 people in Sindh

Not an isolated incident

Only last month, on November 14, six-year-old Hasnain Bughio, son of Ghulam Hussain, was attacked by six stray dogs in Larkana. He was also shifted to Chandka Medical College Hospital and then shifted to National Institute of Child Health in Karachi in critical condition (NICH). Hasnain is still under treatment at NICH.

Soon after, on November 15, Local Government Secretary Roshan Ali Shaikh had said that a grand operation would be launched the following week which would eliminate all stray dogs in Sindh in five to eight years. The secretary had claimed that a budget of Rs900 million had been allocated to vaccinate all stray dogs, while adding that the campaign had not been launched in the rural areas of the province.

SHC gives 15 days to prepare PC-1

Meanwhile, in Karachi, a two-member bench of the Sindh High Court, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Agha Faisal, directed all agencies on Wednesday to continue the campaign to control the population of stray dogs and ensure the availability of anti-rabies vaccines (ARVs) in hospitals. The bench was hearing the plea filed by Advocate Tariq Mansoor pertaining to the non-availability of ARVs.

Shaikh and other relevant officials appeared before the court. The district municipal corporations (DMCs), Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Cantonment Boards submitted their replies before the court.

The court had earlier directed the approval of PC-1 and asked what progress had been made in this regard.

Shaikh said that the PC-1 was ready but there were some complications that needed to be addressed. Another 15 days are needed for the approval of PC-1, he said.

The court asked whether the DMCs or Cantonment Boards have started any campaigns against stray dogs. The lawyers replied that the Cantonment Boards have established control rooms to control stray dogs and the DMCs are also making efforts in this regard.

However, the petitioner said, stray dogs are still present in different areas of the city.

The bench inquired whether ARVs have been made available in all government hospitals to which Shaikh replied that the task force has been working towards enhancing the capacity of the hospitals. At this, the bench asked as to what major decisions have been taken during the meetings of the task force.

The local government secretary said that recommendations for legislation pertaining to stray dogs were being prepared. A new methodology will have to be devised for this and legislation would be needed for the implementation of the plan and of PC-1, he said, adding that there are 194 hospitals and dispensaries in Sindh. Shaikh told the court that a special wing and operation rooms to treat victims of dog-bite cases are being established in 64 hospitals.

The local government secretary said that the possibility of establishment of hostels for stray dogs is also to be decided upon.

There are people living on footpaths and hostels are being made for animals, remarked the court. What action will be taken, asked the bench.

Shaikh told the court that a case of a minor had surfaced only recently. The government is looking into the matter and dogs are being vaccinated with the assistance of some non-governmental organisations, he said, while adding that courses are being offered to train the staff on how to vaccinate dogs. According to the local government secretary, 16,000 dogs have been vaccinated and the programme would be spread across the province after the Sindh government's approval.

The petitioner maintained before the court that there were plenty of stray dogs in the premises of the Karachi city court, which is also crowded as the lawyers' elections are happening.

Minor boy, mauled by six dogs, fights for life at NICH

A campaign should begin soon, remarked the bench. "What if the dogs bite a lawyer?"

This court room erupted with laughter at these remarks. The bench directed the relevant DMC to launch the campaign in the city court. The local government secretary said that the Cantonment Boards should also be directed to take action.

The court directed all the agencies to continue with their campaign to control stray dogs and ensure the availability of ARVs in hospitals while seeking a progress report from the DMCs, KMC and Cantonment Boards. The court further directed the task force to send recommendations to the Sindh government and ordered the preparation and approval of PC-1 within 15 days. Seeking a report on the anti-rabies wing, the court adjourned the hearing till December 30.

*with additional input from PPI 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2019.