Ludhiana, December 3, 2014: Congress Member Parliament from Ludhiana Ravneet Singh Bittu today raised the issue of increasing menace of dog bites in the country in Lok Sabha.
Ravneet said, as per WHO report due to dog bites between 25000 to 30000 people lose their lives in our country annually. He said, the number of deaths can be much higher given the fact that the population of street dogs has increased exponentially in the last few years. Out of the total deaths due to Rabbies in the world, 36% happen in India. The children below the age of 15 of poor families are the worst sufferers. They account for the 60% of the total deaths in India, he said.
Under the National Rabies Control Programme the Government has allocated a meager amount of Rs.50 Crore for the sterilisation of street dogs and vaccination of all dogs as well as for the treatment of affected persons, he apprised. A single injection for treatment of Rabies costs Rs. 2,000 and the affected person has to pay Rs. 10,000 from out of his pocket for his entire course of treatment, he remarked.
Urging the government to raise the funds allocated under National Rabies Control Programme by several fold he requested the Ministry to provide free treatment to the affected patients in all hospitals as most of them are poor.
-----------------------------
Readers may send their news/views/feedback to us:
cityairnews@gmail.com
Date:
Wednesday, December 3, 2014