Dog-bite victims left in the lurch, staff enjoy holiday

Bipin Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 28

Giving Hippocratic Oath the go-by, doctors and paramedical staff posted at the Civil Dispensary, Sector 19, Chandigarh, left more than 12 dog-bite victims in the lurch as the former enjoyed their holiday this afternoon.

The dog-bite victims, who had come from Indira Colony, Mani Majra, Sector 9, 26, Saketri village, MDC, Panchkula, and others parts of the city for anti-rabies vaccination (ARV), had to return disappointed as the physicians and other staff of the dispensary enjoyed their holiday.

Accompanied by her eight-year-old son Amit, Neelam, a resident of Saketri village, was unable to decide where to seek medical assistance after she found the main gate of the dispensary, specially designated for anti-rabies treatment by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, locked.

Talking to The Tribune, Neelam said a bitch bit Amit on his temple while he was asleep on early Saturday morning. “We were asleep in our hutment. We woke up to Amit’s shrieks. The bitch ran away, leaving Amit injured,” she recalled.

“We rushed him to the village dispensary for first aid. The doctor advised us to visit the dispensary at Sector 19, Chandigarh, for anti-rabies injections,” she added.

Another dog-bite victim, Akanksha (7), a resident of Indira Colony, Mani Majra, was accompanying her mother Saroj outside the dispensary. Saroj raised objection when two women employees of the dispensary locked the main gate and asked her to approach some other health care institution for vaccination.

Naresh Kumar, a rickshaw-puller, was worried a lot about his daughter Kajal (6), who was bitten by a stray dog on the left leg two days ago.

“Where should I go for getting my daughter treated now? The dispensary is closed and tomorrow is a holiday too,” he added.

Vineet, a resident of Sector 26, Karnail Singh of Mohali, Sarishati Raj (80), a resident of MDC, Panchkula, also returned disappointed.

What MC says

Poonam Sharma, Mayor of Chandigarh, visited the victims’ houses in Mani Majra on Saturday and assured them of proper vaccination. The corporation has opened the Civil Dispensary, Sector 19, Chandigarh, despite holiday on Saturday for about four hours for the vaccination of the dog-bite victims from Mani Majra, a press note issued by the MC said.