(IN)The Hindu: Rabies Vaccine in Vizag

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Pradeep Nath, president of Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals, said under the ABC programme revaccination should be taken up. He said

the catching of dogs using the `butter fly method' was effective and dogs could

be caught anywhere.

 

 

 

 

Date:30/05/2007 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/30/stories/2007053004830200.htm

 

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Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

 

Order on rabies vaccine soon, says SHRC member

 

Staff Reporter

 

Cost of vaccine beyond the reach of the common man

 

 

 

 

 

VISAKHAPATNAM: The State Human Rights Commission will pass an order to

make sufficient quantity of anti-Rabies vaccine (ARV) available at government

hospitals in revenue divisional headquarters. Commission member E.Ismail held a

meeting on the stray dog menace here on Tuesday with NGOs and others concerned.

He said the hearings of the commission on the dog bite and related problems

across the State had been completed. The order on availability of the vaccine

would be send to the Medical and Health Department pending a comprehensive order

on the problem by him and the Chairman.

 

City veterinary officer N. Karunakara Rao said the ARV was not available

at the outpatient wing of the King George Hospital since 2006. The cost of

vaccine was beyond the reach of the common man and hence should be made

available, he said. Dr. Karunakara Rao said though the animal birth control

(ABC) programme was being implemented for the past six years the deaths due to

Rabies and dog bite cases were on the rise.

 

Training needed

 

 

P.S.S. Raj, divisional medical & health officer of VSP, said dog-catchers

should be trained and relief vans provided to extend immediate treatment to the

victims. Also in extreme cases dogs should be allowed to be restrained without

the presence of animal rights activists.

 

C.S. Rao, president of Praja Spandana urged the commission to take up, in

consultation with the NHRC, a thorough review of the Prevention of Cruelty

Animals Act of 1960 and the ABC (Dogs) rules 2001.

 

Compensation

 

 

While the State Government should bear the cost of treatment, in case of

fatal bites a compensation of Rs.3 lakhs to Rs.5 lakhs should be paid besides

government job to the kin of the victim.

 

Pradeep Nath, president of Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals, said under the ABC programme revaccination should be taken up. He said

the catching of dogs using the `butter fly method' was effective and dogs could

be caught anywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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