The New Indian Express 22.10.2013
'Expiry' threat may give ABC programme a boost
The threat of medicines bought for the ABC (Animal Birth Control) programme for dogs getting outdated is pushing the City Corporation to run the programme in full swing at the earliest. The council decision in January this year to give the medicines as loan for the District Veterinary Centre did not yield any result. The absence of a veterinary surgeon has hit the ABC programme badly.
Earlier this month, the only surgeon was transferred. “After holding talks with the Health Minister, it has been assured that the vacancies for the vets will be filled by November 1, and then on, the programme will be carried out in full swing,” said Corporation health standing committee chairperson S Pushpalatha.
The medicines bought for the 2011-12 year remain to be used. A health official said that the medicines bought for surgical purposes have been used and the other medicines are still available.
“The medicines in stock have expiry date till 2014 and 2015. Within that period, we hope that they all can be fully utilised and their use will not go beyond the expiry date,” said the official. To catch the dogs, the Corporation is also planning to buy a new vehicle. And in the council meeting held recently, it decided to buy a mini truck for Rs 3.80 lakh and set up a cage within an expenditure of Rs 5 lakh.
At present, the only autorickshaw with the dog squad undergoes repair often. Hence, only vaccination is given to the dogs. As the number of garbage mountains is increasing in the city, the residents at the receiving end are left to suffer the attack of dogs.
When complaints mounted, the dog squad caught dogs from the areas where the attacks were maximum, but the efforts could not be carried forward owing to the lack of adequate facilities.
