Robert Mugabe has asked the Ministries of Agriculture and Health to intervene in Kanara Sub-county after suspected stray dog attacks reportedly killed two children, injured another and raised concerns over access to anti-rabies treatment.
Kitagwenda County MP Robert Mugabe has asked the government to urgently intervene following suspected stray dog attacks in Kanara Sub-county, Kitagwenda District, that have reportedly left two children dead and another seriously injured.
Mugabe raised the matter in Parliament on Thursday, calling on the Ministries of Agriculture and Health to contain the roaming dogs, prevent further attacks and protect residents and their livestock.
According to the MP, two children aged between six and 10 died after being bitten, while a five-year-old child is receiving treatment for serious injuries.
The attacks have mainly been reported in Kigarama, Kabirizi I and II, and Kanara Central, where residents say roaming dogs have become a threat to human life and livestock.
Mugabe urged the Ministry of Agriculture to work with the Ministry of Health to address the threat and ensure victims receive appropriate medical care.
“The government needs to urgently intervene and find a lasting solution to the stray dog attacks in Kanara Sub-county to prevent further loss of life and protect people's livelihoods,” Mugabe said.
He also called for specialised medical care for the injured child and support for families who have lost children in the reported attacks.
Meanwhile, Steven Akampwera, the in-charge of Kanara Health Centre III, said the facility had registered two adult patients with injuries from dog bites.
Akampwera said the patients were referred to Rukunyu Hospital in Kamwenge District for specialised treatment because the health centre lacked anti-rabies medicines.
“We have registered two adult patients who sustained injuries from stray dog bites, but we referred them to Rukunyu Hospital for specialised treatment because we do not have anti-rabies drugs,” Akampwera said.
The reported shortage has raised concerns about the capacity of local health facilities to respond to dog-bite cases, particularly if further attacks occur.
Dog bites can expose victims to rabies, a potentially fatal disease once symptoms develop. Anyone bitten or scratched by a suspected rabid animal should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and seek urgent medical attention for assessment and possible post-exposure treatment. Treatment should not be delayed while waiting to establish whether the animal has rabies.
Residents are calling for the government to contain the roaming dogs, improve access to treatment and prevent further deaths and livestock losses.
The Ministries of Agriculture and Health had not publicly responded to the concerns raised by the MP by the time of publication.