— Mazabuka runs out of rabies vaccine

Mazabuka runs out of rabies vaccine

Mazabuka, June 10^th, 2014, ZANIS —-  Mazabuka District hospital has run out vaccine doses needed to treat patients infected with rabies causing fear and panic among affected members of the public.

Meanwhile, one person has died from rabies a disease caused by dog bites, a disease that reportedly broke out early this year in some parts of Mazabuka District.

ZANIS reports that Mazabuka District Acting Medical Superintendent Mushengula Mushabati confirmed the development in an interview today.

Mr. Mushabati  said that the health institution has run out of vaccine doses forcing patient’s to return home without treatment.

He said there is need for the supply to of the vaccines bearing in mind the extent of the prevalence of the disease in the area where people have continued to be beaten by rabid dogs and requiring medical treatment.

Mr. Mushabati charged that now that Mazabuka District hospital has been upgraded to a status of a general hospital, it was incumbent for authorities at the hospital to urgently request for the drugs unlike in the pas where such responsibilities where in the hands of his office.

But authorities at the district hospital have argued over the matter saying no formal communication has been forwarded to them with regards the status of the general hospital and as such it was the duty of the District medical office to order drugs from Medical stores.

Mazabuka District Administrative Officer Wilson Siadunka whose office was stormed by nine patients from Nakambala compound who required treatment for rabies after an attack said there is need for authorities in the area to immediately cease their misunderstandings on who should order for drugs from Medical stores in Lusaka.

Mr.Siadunka charged that it is not correct for the District Medical office to leave the problem of ordering drugs in the hands of the hospital alone when such a responsibility as always liked the hands of the District Medical office.

He said such misunderstandings should not be entertained because they put the lives of patients at risk adding that the authorities should quickly put their house in order.

Nakambala Compound Chairperson Mussolini Buumba who led the affected patients to Mr. Siadunka’s office where they appealed for help from government said the dog bite victims were ordered to go and buy the doses from private chemists because they had run out at the hospital.

Mr.Buumba also confirmed that one person named Miniva Chabota who was also beaten by the same dog that has since been killed died last week from suspected rabies and has since been buried.

Rabies broke out in Mazabuka early this year and has seen two people die from the disease so far.