Akhaltsikhe Population Cannot Pay Twenty One Lari for Rabies Injection

“The injection costs twenty one Lari at clinic. In case of biting, patient needs at least three injections. I could not afford it and I ran a risk. I checked the dog every day- if he was alive or not. Fortunately, the dog survived ‘, - says Otar Atskurishvili, who was bitten by a street dog.

There is repeated person in Akhaltsikhe who was bitten by a dog at least once and then relies on luck. For example, last time, in Tamarashvili Street, three people were bitten by street dogs. None of them could get rabies injection because of lack of money.

Tree-year-old Akaki Gognadze was walking along the central street of Rustaveli in the Akhaltsikhe with his mother when he was bitten by a street dog.

‘It was a big white dog and it had long hair,’-recalled little Akaki and holds out his injured leg.

The child’s mother, Maia Balasaniani, said that she gave an injection to her son immediately.

“It’s considered to be a city centre but there is tenfold street -dogs. I’ve injected the child but it’s difficult for a baby to get so many injections,”- she said.

22 cases of death because of rabies have been registered in Georgia for the last two years.

In Akhalltsikhe, according to statistics, there were 616 cases of biting the people in 2006; three hundred fifty-one people have been bitten in 2007 so far, but none of the corresponding institutions reacted on the situation.

Rabies is acute infections, which is passed on a person after the contact with animals (biting, scratching, wetting with saliva). Both domestic and wild mammals can be infected by rabies. In any kind of injuries, it is recommended to take preventive treatment, but it is effective if we apply to it within estimated term.

“The cases of biting, mostly by dogs and cats, are frequent. Similar patients need help of Anti-rabies Service Department, to avoid the chance of getting infected with rabies. In case of illness, there is no chance of recovery”- said Surgeon Roland Maisuradze, the head of JSC Akhaltsikhe District Hospital. 

Vaccination consists of three alternative injections; as for the whole course of treatment it provides six injections. When dangerous animal can be observed and it does not die within ten days, three injections will be enough. If dangerous animal is unidentified and the corresponding bodies cannot observe it, victim person will need the whole course of treatment.    

Since April 20, 2007 anti-rabies service at Akhaltsikhi’s District Hospital has become paid. Initially one injection was 41 lari, and now it coasts 21 lari. Roland Maisuradze commented that the price on injection is estimated according to the price of imported medicine.    

Besides anti-rabies injection, patients need anti-rabies immune-globulin in some other cases, which costs 39, 20 lari.

In case of biting, any kind service is free for adults under the age of 15 and for those patients who have medical policy.

Eighty-three-year-old Asia Barishnikov was bitten by her own dog in her yard.

“The dog approached me slowly from behind and rent my flesh. The wound was deep and I lost much blood,”- said Asia Barishnikov.

The old women, despite having a policy, remained without vaccine. Family was below poverty level and could not afford to pay for transportation.

Neither seventy-five year-old Otar Atskureli nor eighty-year-old Lili Fenashvili were vaccinate because of poor economical conditions.

“The injection costs twenty one lari at the clinic. In case of biting, patient needs at least three injections. I could not afford it and I ran a risk. I checked the dog every day- if he was alive or not. Fortunately, the dog survived ‘, - said Otar Atskurishvili, who was bitten by a street dog.

“Vaccination needs money. My pension is not enough to buy bread,” said Lili Fenashvili who applied to the Akhaltsikhe District Clinic for help.

“Anti-rabies service is provided within the program framework at our clinic and everybody should pay for this service. One injection costs 21 lari,” said Lili Kakoshvili, deputy director of the “Raipoliklinika Ltd” (district clinic).

Injured retired people claimed that the problem about street dogs has bothered them for many years already.

Representatives of Akhaltsikhe District Municipality do not know how to resolve the problem. It is inhuman to kill dogs and besides that it is forbidden under the law. However, in case of isolation of dogs they will face another problem of feeding those dogs.

“Akhaltsikhe Department for Safe Product, Veterinary and Plant Protection is preparing a project on street dogs. Consequently we will decide what to do according to that project,” said Shalva Dalalishvili, Deputy Governor of Municipality.

The above-mentioned department was due to prepare the project several months ago and to introduce it to the Municipality but they have not finished it yet.

Gulo Kokhodze, Akhaltsikhe