Victims of Dog-bites can Now Access Anti-rabies in Siaya Health Facilities

By Eric Omwombo

Victims of dog bites can access anti-rabies in Siaya health facilities.

Some 3000 anti-human rabies had been dispatched to 10 health facilities across the six sub-counties.

According to County Pharmacist Nancy Onunga, we had procured anti-rabies vaccines three months ago and restocked it to health facilities strategically placed in the constituencies.

“Its true that we had procured the vaccines at Ksh 3.6 million and 10 health facilities are already restocked,” said Onunga adding that in Rarieda sub-County, the vaccines are restocked at Madiany health center.

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Public health Emergency, Robert Rapenda, says that it’s data that informs procurement of anti-rabies vaccines.

“From July to December 2023, 1395 dog bites were reported while 2201 were of other bites 
Rapenda said it’s the high cases of dog bites Siaya that prompted the allocation of KES 3.6 million by the county government.
It was notified that of the 585, we have 230 vaccines at Siaya and Bondo Refferal hospitals.

“It was also noted that prevention is better than cure.One vile is procured at 1200.
Rapenda said the vaccines is not for free but facilities put a certain amount for it.

According to Research expert Tom Aballa, Siaya is a high risk area for dog bites.

Aballa said it’s those cases that prompted them to procure doses of anti-rabies from Tanzania to vaccinate 500 dogs in Asembo.

“We operate in Asembo Rarieda sub-County where dog bites thrived and Kenya Medical Research Institute and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.
Siaya is one of the 8 counties with high risk cases including Kisumu, Machakos, Kitui, Makueni.

Last year, 10 year old boy in Rarieda which was bitten a stray dog died despite the samples taken from him turning positive.

In 2016, a kid who was bitten by a dog failed to observe the set conditions for vaccinations.
Dog bites victims require 5 jabs in a period of 28 days so a poor person will not be able to access it for it’s costly.

Siaya resident, Nancy Juma whose child was bitten by a stray dog had to secure a vaccine at a private hospital(Bama) at KES 1500.
In 2014, Kenya launched National Rabies Elimination stray 2914-2030.

The strategy was developed through inter-ministerial collaboration between the ministry and Agriculture.