Karachi: Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi has taken notice of the increasing incidents of dog bites in the city and directed the concerned authorities to take priority measures to prevent such incidents and ensure the availability of essential medical facilities and anti-rabies vaccines at hospitals.
He issued these directives while chairing a meeting with all Deputy Commissioners through video link at his office on Friday. The meeting reviewed measures to prevent dog-bite incidents and ensure the immediate and improved provision of treatment facilities to affected citizens.
The meeting also conducted a detailed review of the availability of anti-rabies vaccine and other necessary medical facilities. It was decided that the Deputy Commissioners, in coordination with municipal authorities, the Health Department and non-governmental organisations, would take all necessary and priority measures.
The meeting discussed in detail the performance of Dog Bite Centres established at hospitals, as well as strategies to control the stray-dog population.
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khosa, in his briefing, said that Dog Bite Centres at three major hospitals including Lyari General Hospital, Civil Hospital and Jinnah Hospital were fully functional and that there was no shortage of anti-rabies vaccine at these centres.
Commissioner Naqvi said that a large number of affected citizens from different parts of Karachi were visiting these centres, making their continuous monitoring essential.
It was decided that all Dog Bite Centres would remain fully operational and the uninterrupted availability of required medical facilities and vaccines would be ensured. The Commissioner directed that comprehensive arrangements must be in place to provide timely medical treatment to citizens.
The meeting also decided to formulate a plan, in coordination with Town Municipal Administrations, to control the population of stray dogs, with guidance to be sought from international principles and procedures.
The meeting also reviewed proposals to initiate neutralisation and tagging measures for stray dogs.It was decided that all Deputy Commissioners would present detailed reports on preventive measures and efforts undertaken in their respective districts at the next weekly meeting.