Anti-rabies clinics come to the rescue of patients

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 17

The setting up of anti-rabies clinics and the change in the chemical formulation of the vaccines has come to the rescue of patients.

Earlier, patients had to return without getting the vaccine administered due to the shortage of vaccine at the government-run health centres and hospitals.

Under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), the Health Department has come up with anti-rabies clinic at the Civil Hospital. In addition to the Civil Hospital, anti-rabies clinics have also been set up at all Community Health Centres (CHCs), sub-divisional hospitals located in Khanna, Samrala, Raikot and Jagraon.

Earlier, the shortage of vaccines used to cause a lot of problems for people coming for the vaccine. But after setting up of clinics and change in chemical formulation, this problem has been solved to a great extent. On an average, 80 patients come to the Civil Hospital daily, out of which 20 are new patients, while the remaining are old patients who come for subsequent dose of the vaccine.

Dr Ramesh, District Programme Officer for the NRCP, said: “Earlier, there was a lot of problem regarding the shortage of anti-rabies vaccines. But after the change in the chemical formulation, this problem has been solved.”

The change in the chemical formation of anti-rabies vaccine has come to the rescue of patients because now, five patients are administered from one vial, while earlier only one patient was given injection from one vial.

The numbers of doses that are administered remain the same at five, but the quantity of dosage per injection has decreased as compared to before. Now, in place of intramuscular injection, intra-dermal injection is being administered. Earlier, .5 ml injection was given, but now only .1 ml is being given.

Now, every patient coming to the clinic is provided with a unique identification number, through which all his medical details and treatment can be traced. The department also keeps the record of the type of dog, whether stray or pet, that has bitten a patient and the area of incidence. In addition to this, the treatment history of the patient will also be recorded. Two cards of the patient would be prepared — one will remain with the hospital and other with the patient.

Savitri Devi, a resident of Parkash Colony, said she went to the hospital to get anti-rabies vaccine for her daughter in October last year, but had to return back after the first dose. “I got all the remaining doses administered to her from a private clinic. While the vaccine is provided free of cost at the Civil Hospital, I had to shell money to get it administered from outside,” she said.

Meanwhile another patient, Dimple from Shimplapuri said the menace of stray dogs needs to be controlled by the authorities. “Earlier, my son was bitten by the stray dogs and now my husband. For my son, I had to get vaccines administered from outside due to shortage at the Civil Hospital, but now, these are available and my husband is getting vaccines from the Civil Hospital itself,” she said.

Number of patients visiting Civil Hospital 

• October 2017: New Patients-357 (No old patients were given subsequent dosages due to shortage of vaccines)
• November 2017: New patients- 429; Old patients-521
• December 2017: New patients-448; Old patients-984