Unstoppable rabies

A disease that is entirely preventable continues to claim lives in Sindh, exposing the provincial government's persistent failure to address a public health crisis that has been allowed to worsen for years. At least 38 rabies cases have been reported this year at just two major hospitals in Karachi, while more than 26,000 dog-bite cases have been recorded at these two facilities alone.

The provincial government's response has largely consisted of announcing programmes and making assurances that have yielded little tangible improvement. The Sindh Rabies Control Programme was launched in 2022, yet its implementation has been hampered by inadequate funding and limited operational coverage. As recently as December last year, officials acknowledged that only about Rs66 million of the Rs265 million allocated for vaccination and sterilisation during the financial year had been released. In May, the chief minister launched another province-wide campaign, while a fresh strategy for managing Karachi's stray dog population was announced last month. Meanwhile, the number of people suffering dog bites remains alarming. Such repeated announcements mean little unless accompanied by sustained implementation and measurable results. The government must explain why, despite years of programmes and considerable expenditure, it has failed to bring the situation under control. Although the government claims to have upgraded 278 anti-rabies units across Sindh, their effectiveness needs to be assessed independently.

The way forward requires a coordinated and sustained response. Mass dog vaccination and sterilisation must be expanded across the province, supported by reliable funding and regular monitoring. Health facilities must follow standardised treatment protocols, while public awareness campaigns should reach communities where misconceptions and reliance on traditional remedies continue to endanger lives. The provincial government must also establish clear accountability for failures in both animal population management and emergency medical care.