KARACHI: On the occasion of World Rabies Day, Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah urged people to seek medical care immediately after a dog bite or scratch, warning that even a seemingly minor wound must not be ignored.

He advised anyone bitten or scratched by a dog to wash the wound at once with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, then visit the nearest health facility for treatment and vaccination. “Rabies can be fatal once symptoms appear, making timely treatment essential,” he stated.

The chief secretary said 278 anti-rabies units had been upgraded across Sindh. Vaccine supplies, wound-washing facilities and trained medical staff have been made available at the units to support timely treatment.

He said public awareness, prompt medical care after a bite and vaccination of dogs were all necessary to prevent rabies.

A spokesperson for the chief secretary said Sindh’s capacity to treat dog-bite patients had increased by nearly 30 per cent compared with the first eight months of the previous year.

According to him, health facilities across the province have treated approximately 45,000 patients and administered around 138,000 doses of rabies vaccine. Nearly 5,000 doses of rabies immunoglobulin have also been given where needed.

The public can call 1122 or visit sindharv.com to find their nearest anti-rabies centre.

Govt using all resources to prevent rabies: Sharjeel

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the Sindh government is utilising all available resources to prevent rabies.

In a statement issued here on Monday, he urged the public not to take dog bites or wounds lightly under any circumstances and to get vaccinated immediately.

He said that the provincial government had formulated a comprehensive strategy to control rabies across Sindh, and the availability of rabies vaccines had been ensured at government hospitals and rural health centres throughout the province.

He said that the Sindh government, in collaboration with medical experts and the public, is striving to make the province free from rabies.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2026