ARV vaccine scarce in Bandarban

Physicians in Bandarban hospital faced an awkward situation following admission of 18 patients into the hospital after being beaten by mad dogs on March 10.

The hospital and the municipality authorities tried to collect ARV vaccine time and again but in vain. But the patients are supposed to be vaccinated within 30 days of dog bite. As a result, relatives of the patients are passing their days in great concern.

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When contacted with Bandarban Civil Surgeon Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, he told this correspondent, 'The vaccine is required to protect people from Jalatonka disease caused by biting of mad dogs. So, it should be kept in stock in the municipality, specially in the Bengali months of Falgun and Chaittra'. Poor patients suffer a lot due to its scarcity, he added.

While this correspondent brought the matter to Bandarban Pourasabha Sanitary Inspector Abdul Motaleb's notice, he told that the Health Directorate had supplied only 41 doses of ARV vaccine in four installments last year. This is the main cause of its scarcity, he said. He further said only five doses of AR vaccine were supplied on March 3 after repeated appeals. At present, there is no stock of the vaccine, he disclosed.