22 lives lost to rabies in Sindh this year mark a severe public health crisis across the province. Families highlight governmental failure to control dog populations and ensure accessible, proper healthcare facilities. A reported scarcity of life-saving medicines and trained personnel further exacerbates this dire situation.
Rabies Crisis: 22 Lives Lost to Rabies in Sindh
About half of these victims hailed from interior Sindh, highlighting a widespread issue. The tragic death of Bazla, a 17-year-old student, exemplifies these challenges; she succumbed after reportedly receiving an incomplete vaccine dose. SindhNews.com confirms ongoing official failures in management and public health infrastructure.
Dog-bite cases have dramatically increased, with over 42,000 incidents reported at three major Karachi hospitals this year. Indus Hospital registered over 16,000 cases, JPMC over 12,000, and Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi over 13,000. Experts stress that inadequate vaccine doses offer no protection from the deadly disease.
Sumera Hussain, Project Director of the Rabies Control Programme Sindh, acknowledges its nascent stage due to funding delays and local councils’ primary role in dog population control. The escalating fatalities, including these 22 lives lost, demand urgent, collaborative government action and improved healthcare to prevent further tragedies.