With stray dog issue gaining national importance after the Supreme Court stepped-in, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is finalising a standard operating procedure (SoP) as focus shifts on reducing instances of dog bites. Two points were identified; one is awareness and second is response on part of administration. In that direction it was decided to increase the capacity of animal birth control (ABC) centres, three of which are functioning in the city. NMC officials expect the revamped Dog Kennel planned in Bhandewadi to start functioning within next few months and same would help in increasing sterilisation numbers at the said ABC.

 

A preliminary meeting was held on Friday at NMC headquarters that was chaired Additional Municipal Commissioner Vasumana Pant chaired the meet. Officials of State Animal Husbandry Department also attended the meet. The first and foremost thing that NMC has decided is to step-up awareness in the society about the stray dog issue. For the same it was decided to depute Asha workers, they are the ones on the field and who can effectively connect with the citizens. So the two wings of Health Department, the Medical Wing and Sanitation Wing, has decided to synergise their efforts on tackling the stray dog menace and manage the response, stated Dr Gajendra Mahalle, Chief Sanitation Officer, NMC. Asha workers can spread information as to first thing to do in aftermath of the dog bite.

 

Also our assessment is that citizens does not know that Rabies vaccination is available at six Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) of NMC. So Dr Mahalle said the NMC's Medical Health Department will widely publicise the UPHC where rabies vaccine is freely available. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commsisioner Rajesh Bhagat; Dr Dipak Selokar, Medical Health Officer; Dr Nitin Fuke, Deputy Commissioner, Animal Husbandary Officer; Dr Sunny Magar, Animal Husbandary Officer, MSU; Dr Rahul Bambotkar, Vets for Animal Society; Dr Trasvu Shekh, Krishna Society for Animals; Dr Iffar Sabri, Independent Animal Welfare Society; and animal lover Karishma Gilani and Anjali Vaidya.