MEET FRANK OSHANUGOR
By Valentine Utulu
Two persons have been confirmed dead and many others hospitalized from suspected case of rabies following a wave of dog bites in Aboh community, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State.
The latest development was made known to newsmen on Friday in Asaba by a senior official of the Delta State Primary Health Care Development Agency (DSPHCDA).
Mr. Vincent Anighora, the State Coordinator of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Elimination Programme at the DSPHCDA told AtlanticNewsonline that the agency got a report of the deaths last Thursday.
He said health officials in Aboh community reported to the Agency that two persons have died while some other victims of the disease are currently undergoing trearment from dog bites in the community.
“Just yesterday, we received a report from our field officers in Aboh community that there have been cases of dog bite and that already two of the victims are dead while others are undertaking treatment.
“The report also said that the villagers have started to kill dogs in the street in a bid to curtail the incidence of dog bites in the community.
“By Monday, we will be sending a team of experts to Aboh community to confirm the actual situation so as to know the next line of action”, Anighora said.
He disclosed that currently in the state, rabies and snake bites have not been given adequate attention under the NTDs, as such there are no available drugs at the moment for treatment.
In view of the latest development, Anighora called for support from every stakeholder in primary health care and donor agencies to enable the agency carry out quick response to the suspected disease
“Like I said earlier, rabies and snake bite have not been given prompt attention before now,
unlike other NTDs, so, we need urgent intervention to enable us procure anti-rabies medicines for treatment”, he said.
