By KASONDE KASONDE –

CENTRAL Province has run out of human anti-rabies vaccine because of dog bites being recorded on a daily basis.
Provincial medical officer Rosemary Mwanza has disclosed that the province run out of the anti-rabies vaccine that is administered to people who have been bitten by a dog.
Dr Mwanza said Kabwe alone had in the last three months recorded about 532 dog bites which was a major concern as the population was at high risk of getting rabies, which was fatal if not treated.
Dr Mwanza was speaking in Kabwe yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting adding that the anti-rabies vaccine was administered in every case of dog bite.
Dr Mwanza said her office had placed an order for the rabies vaccine and was hopeful that the Ministry of Health would respond soon.
“As an office we want to ensure that dogs are vaccinated which is easier and cheaper to do than subject human beings to several injections,” Dr Mwanza said.
He disclosed that in the past three months, the highest number of dog bites have been recorded from Kabwe which had 532, Serenje 431, Chibombo 301 and Mumbwa 199.
She said rabies was preventable and that the provincial medical office had since brought on board all stakeholders such as the council, the provincial administration and the media, among others to work together to prevent and control the disease in the province.
Meanwhile, Central Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Ronald Sinyangwe said it was important to ensure that the public was sensitised on the dangers of not having their dogs vaccinated.
Mr Sinyangwe has since called on the councils to intensify dog registration in the province and carry out health education.