Successful Awareness Walk on World Rabies Day in Karachi

On World Rabies Day, a large awareness walk was jointly organized by key stakeholders, including the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Indus Hospital & Health Center (IHHN), Infectious Disease Society Pakistan, Dow University of Health Sciences, and the CDR Health Department of the Government of Sindh. The event took place at People’s Square.

Mayor Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Also present were Municipal Commissioner Syed Afzal Zaidi, Mayor Karachi’s Representative for Political Affairs Karamullah Waqasi, and representatives from Indus Hospital including Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, Head of Dept of Infectious Disease at IHHN, Aftab Gohar, Manager of the Rabies Prevention and Training Center at IHHN, Dr. Talat Rumi, and Dr. Saqib Ali Sheikh. The event saw the participation of doctors, experts, teachers, a large number of students, and concerned citizens.

Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab emphasized the importance of dog sterilization centers in solving rabies-related issues, revealing that three such centers have been established in KMC hospitals. He stressed the need for immediate anti-rabies injections in case of dog bites, emphasizing the importance of seeking medical attention promptly.

He also shared that the decision to organize an awareness walk in Karachi on International Rabies Day was prompted by a video presentation from Dr. Naseem Salauhddin, which depicted the suffering of a child in Hyderabad who could not be saved. The mayor urged people to visit the nearest hospital for vaccination in case of a dog bite to prevent such tragic incidents.

Dr. Naseem Salahuddin highlighted the alarming statistics of rabies cases, with more than two hundred reported daily. She emphasized that children are especially vulnerable, and symptoms can manifest four to six weeks after a dog bite.

Aftab Gohar, manager of the Rabies Prevention and Training Center at IHHN, noted that over 250 cases are reported daily in Karachi alone, with hundreds more in rural Sindh.