Pakistan: Rabies prevention programme hits financial roadblock in Sindh
Karachi, December 22
Only Rs66.255 million from a fund of Rs265 million was released for mass dog vaccination and sterilisation, with only one centre was operational outside Karachi, Dawn news reported citing the chief secretary of Sindh.
As per Dawn news, CS Asif Hyder Shah, held a meeting on rabies prevention against the backdrop of media reports highlighting sharp increase in dog-bite cases and mortalities in Sindh, which was attended by all divisional commissioners, officials representing the health department and Rabies Control Programme Sindh (RCPS), experts of the Indus Hospital and other key stakeholders.
Dawn reported that the officials informed the attendees that out of the Rs265.02 million allocated for the current financial year 2025-26, a total of Rs66.255 million had been released.
Currently, they said, the RCPS launched in 2022 had only seven fully functional centres in the province. Six of them located in Karachi's districts South, Central, East, West, Korangi and Keamari, while only one was operational in district Matiari, in Hyderabad division.
As per Dawn, the officials noted how on the financial front, the officials stated that out of the total project cost of Rs963.316m, Rs302.988 million (31.4 per cent) had been utilised as of October 31, 2025.
Earlier in September this year, Dawn news reported that an estimated 1,000 people, mostly children, die every year from rabies, despite the availability of life-saving treatment.
"The tragedy is particularly acute in Pakistan's rural and low-income communities, where children are frequently bitten by stray dogs while playing or walking to school. Delayed or inaccessible post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) often leads to preventable deaths," he said as per Dawn.
According to the World Health Organisation, Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease affecting the central nervous system. In up to 99% of human rabies cases, dogs are responsible for virus transmission. Children between the age of 5 and 14 years are frequent victims.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Very sad to read. Rabies is 100% preventable with timely vaccination, both for dogs and humans. The fact that only one centre is operational outside Karachi shows the urban-rural divide in healthcare access. Similar issues plague many regions. The funds must be released immediately.
While the situation is tragic, it's a stark reminder for our own municipalities in India. We also have massive stray populations. Are our animal birth control programs adequately funded and monitored? This news should prompt us to check our own systems.
The financial mismanagement is appalling. Rs 265 million allocated but only Rs 66 million released? Bureaucratic delays cost lives, especially of children. This isn't just a Pakistani problem, it's a South Asian public health challenge that needs a coordinated, compassionate, and well-funded response.
A respectful criticism: The article focuses on the financial roadblock, which is important, but what about community awareness? In many of our villages, people don't know the urgency of PEP after a bite. Programs need funding AND massive public education drives. Jai Hind.
Heart goes out to the families. No child should die from a preventable disease. Hope international health bodies can step in to help bridge the funding gap. This is about humanity, not politics. 💔
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