Free anti-rabies vaccine still a distant dream for victims

As the rural and urban areas of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have witnessed mushroom growth of dogs and attacks of rabid dogs, victims are forced to buy the most important anti-rabies injection from the black market.

Though, the vaccine for scratches caused by rabid dog attacks is available in government hospitals, the most expensive vaccine meant for curing cuts by dog bite isn’t available in any government hospital, including the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The cost of one injection of Rabies immune globulin is Rs12,000 in the black market. The state-run medical facilities advise citizens to purchase expensive anti-rabies injections from their pockets and self-administer six doses at regular intervals.

In case of rabid or normal dog attack with only scratches, six doses of anti-rabies vaccine are administered on the first day, third day, seventh day, 14th day, 21st day and 28th day from Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals or District Headquarters Hospitals. However, when a rabid dog’s teeth have caused wounds on the human body, it’s necessary to administer an injection of rabies immune globulin for every 15 kilograms of the injured person’s weight.

Surprisingly, the said injection is not available in any government hospital. A rabid dog victim, Haji Tariq Hussain, a resident of Batala Sharif village in the suburbs of Kahuta Tehsil, was returning home after Fajr (morning) prayers when a rabid dog bit his hands and stuck his teeth in the victim’s hands.

Hussian said that he was administered the first anti-rabies vaccine from Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Kahuta and advised to get an anti-rabies immune globulin injection the same day. The victim approached all hospitals situated in the twin cities but failed to manage it.

The victim finally arranged six injections for Rs72,000 according to his 85kg weight from the black market and got these administered from a private hospital. Hussain, however, said that his uncle Haji Kausar Parvez, who suffered scratches on his leg from the same dog’s attack, is getting the anti-rabies vaccine in routine.

Sources in Benazir Bhutto General Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi say they have only an anti-rabies vaccine available for dog scratches.