500 rabies vaccine ready to work in Victoria Hospital

The Narayanganj District Council has supplied 500 doses of rabies vaccine to Narayanganj General (Victoria) Hospital to address a prolonged shortage and support public health services.

Administrator Professor Mamun Mahmud formally delivered the doses to hospital authorities on Tuesday afternoon at a programme held at the District Council office.

Mamun Mahmud said the issue was addressed promptly after it came to the Council’s attention.
“Considering the public interest, the District Council has supplied 500 doses. We hope this will temporarily ease the crisis and ensure patients can receive treatment more easily,” he said.

Speakers at the event said the growing number of stray dogs in the city has led to an increase in dog bite incidents, with children and pedestrians particularly at risk. New patients are arriving at the hospital, but treatment services had been disrupted due to the vaccine shortage.

According to health department sources, rabies is a deadly viral disease that can be fatal if not treated in time. Immediate vaccination after a dog bite or scratch is essential. Due to the shortage, many patients were unable to complete their vaccination schedules, putting them at serious risk.

Health experts emphasised that alongside vaccine supply, effective steps are needed to control the stray dog population.

Officials noted that as the number of stray dogs in Narayanganj continues to rise, so does the risk of rabies. On average, at least 50 patients visit government hospitals daily for treatment after dog bites or scratches.

During the prolonged shortage, many patients were forced to travel to Dhaka for vaccination.
The latest initiative has brought some relief, though long-term measures are still needed to address the issue.

Among those present were Civil Surgeon Dr. A.F.M. Mushfiqur Rahman, District Council Chief Executive Officer Md. Mashfakur Rahman, and other officials from the health and administrative departments.