Srinagar, Dec 25: Bitten by a dog in broad daylight at Pantha Chowk, Ajaz Ahmad Khan, a 17-year-old boy from Budgam –working at a fast food kiosk there was shifted to SMHS hospital where he couldn’t get life saving vaccination in time because of alleged non-availability of the required staff.
 Around a week back, at 4:30 PM, a stray pack attacked Ajaz when he was walking just outside the kiosk.
 As Ajaz tried to resist, one of the dogs caught hold of his hand and left it wounded, badly, in a pool of blood.
 “We rushed Ajaz to a nearby hospital in Pampore for life saving treatment. But due to shortage of vaccine, they shifted him to SMHS hospital where we were told that the dog bite vaccinations are shot only till 4PM,” said Ajaz’s colleague, who took him to the hospital.
 Dying with pain, the poor helpless boy, obviously at risk of rabies, found no options but to do some beg, borrow and steal to buy the vaccine from open market, himself. It cost him around Rs 1500 rupees, something equal to his month’s salary.
 Those who know about the episode are all fire. “It is so inconsiderate on part of the hospital management who failed to keep the staff available for such incidents. What if this incident would have taken place in the late hours when even the markets get closed?” Shakeel Ahmad, a chemist argued.
 When contacted, Medical Superintendent SMHS hospital, Dr Muhammad Rafiq Pampori downplayed the matter.
 “The required staff might have been on leave on the fateful day when this incident happened. Still I’ll look into the matter to check if there’s any negligence on part of the hospital management.” Dr Pampori told Greater Kashmir.
 When asked about the substitute staff, the doctor replied that “We are running short of workforce.”
 Talking about the growing dog menace, some residents of Pantha chowk argued that the administration has miserably failed to curb this menace which has become a serious threat to human life.
 They said that the growing population of dogs has unleashed terror in the area.
 As for the victim, he says it will take him months to pay back the money he borrowed for the treatment.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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