Anti-rabies clinic comes up at Victoria Hospital

Now you need not cough up a huge sum for dog-bite treatment. An anti-rabies clinic was inaugurated at Victoria Hospital here on Wednesday. Vaccination and treatment for dog bite will be about five times cheaper in this clinic than in a private hospital.

Inadequately stocked

At present, patients are forced to run from one hospital to another because all hospitals and BBMP referral centres are not adequately stocked with vaccines and immunoglobulins.

While all patients are administered anti-rabies vaccine, immunoglobulins are administered to patients based on the severity of their wounds.

Speaking after inaugurating the clinic, Durganna M.S., Medical Superintendent of Victoria Hospital, said children would be administered vaccine and given immunoglobulins at a subsidised cost.

Free treatment for BPL

Treatment for patients from below poverty line families will be given for free.

The clinic, to be operated by the Department of Community Medicine, will coordinate with the Surgery Department if need arises.

More cases reported

Officials at Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said that a large number of dog bite cases were reported from peripheral areas in the city and the newly added BBMP areas. People from poor economic backgrounds and ragpickers were at increased risk of being bitten by dogs.

T. Shivaram Bhat, Joint Director, Animal Husbandry, BBMP, said that a large number of dogs bite cases were being reported from localities where solid waste management is poor.