• A dog bite - 500 million rupees

• Development goals

• Traffic congestion at Narahenpita junction

• Re-assess convoy operations
  
  A dog bite - 500 million rupees

On a sunny evening at the beginning of the month of June, I went for my usual jog to Campbell Park. (One prefers to do a jog in a public place in a healthy environment whilst listening to the chirping of birds and seeing the birds on trees... on roads too, rather than on a commercialised boring exercise machine).

On my way back home walking slowly near Karlshrue Avenue, I saw a man with two huge dogs, one with a leash and the other without even a collar. Both were monstrous Doberman Pinschers and the frail looking man taking them for a walk had no control whatsoever. (In World War II, Doberman gained its reputation as a fierce cannie with a savage disposition - ref. Doberman by Lou-Ann Cloidt).

The dog without the collar, without any provocation suddenly jumped at me and took a good bite off my chest. I was in immense pain and anger. Suppressing my anger, I went under the shower (scientific act to follow washing the wound well with soap and water).

Thereafter, I got a Tetanus injection, followed by heavy Antibiotics and went to the Anti-Rabies Clinic in the General Hospital where I was treated with four injections of Anti-Rabies Vaccine and put me on a schedule for future vaccines which I took.

At the clinic, I saw an eye catching notice - Rupees 500 million for a dog bite - mind you from the poor tax payers' purse. The Medical Officer attended on me at the clinic - hats off for his exceptional courteous professional attitude, meticulously wrote down all the details of mine, also took an assurance from me that I would monitor the condition of the dog for 14 days and report back.

To my utter surprise, nothing was asked about the dog which may go on a biting rampage in future as well, for which the Government is prepared to pay eagerly.

After my danger period of 14 days is over and my wounds healed leaving a few scars only. With a sigh of relief, I was passing the same place again (of course this time by car) I saw the two dogs again, even without leashes, taken for a walk.

This prompted me to write this article to enlighten the general public and to open the eyes of the Authorities to take appropriate measures to avoid a recurrence of similar incidents and to save the Rs. 500 million of public money.

I suggest - 'no dogs in public places' - specified length of a compulsory leash and the size of the Master in relation to the dog must be factors to be considered. (One must not rear a dog if he cannot physically control the dog ref. Dobemann by Lou-Ann Cloidt)

I firmly believe it is a serious public health issue as it involves lives, and places an enormous financial burden - Rupees 500 million per annum, on the State healthcare system, not to mention millions spent in the private healthcare sector.

It is common knowledge that most of the public places are teeming with stray dogs. They are quite used to the public and do not attack passers-by although, they might end up in the Dog Pound. But a fair number of monstrous, overfed, uncontrollable dogs within the parapet walls of their respective masters, pose a prominent threat to society when taken for exercise walks without safety precautions, as they are not used to the public.

It is a common sight in public places, these dogs are taken for walks by their rich masters who even stand and watch them urinating (wonder who the Master is?) Most of these dogs' tails are customarily cut off completely, a sorry plight where they cannot express themselves (A dog cannot smile).

I wish to suggest that when taking down the details of the patient, the same of the dog too should be recorded; name of the dog, colour and description, whether vaccinated or not, owner's name and the address.

After the 14th day, details recorded of the dog should be handed over to the Public health Inspector (PHI) of the area to inquire into the incident to prevent a recurrence of the same. If the owner of the dog is not co-operative, the PHI should hand over the matter to the police.

On the one hand, the exercise of reporting the incident to the Police by the affected party after 14 days will be futile as he will be invariably asked by the police why he waited for such a long time and the matter dropped.

On the other hand, the affected party is not in a position to lodge a complaint with the Police as soon as the incident occurs fearing that the owner of the dog would not co-operate to observe the condition of the dog for 14 days as required by the Medical standards.

I am strongly of the view that the one I proposed or a proper system should be in place, and quickly too, to address this problem to safeguard the precious lives of the general public.

There is also a controversy whether the Anti-Rabies - Vaccine (ARV) should be given if the dog is vaccinated. According to the consultant Virologists in the field, if the dog is vaccinated (Bandicoots and the like complicate the issue) and is available for inspection for the entire period of 14 days, ARV is not indicated.

If the dog dies within 14 days Equine or Human Rabies Immunoglobulin Serum should be administered in a place where Intensive Care of High Dependency Unit is available and kept under observation as the injection itself can be very dangerous.

The cost of this injection is in the range of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 35,000. The doctors at the Rabies Clinics always insist that the ARV should be given forgetting the ever changing protocols recommended.

If advised otherwise and the patient is found to have been infected later, the doctor may have to face an inquiry thereby risking his career. (The exercise of sending the head of the dead dog for examination shows a similar phenomenon).

It is time the authorities took prompt action to make the society aware of regulations applicable if any, in relation to dog bites. If regulations are not prevalent at present, immediate action should be taken to install them as I stated before.

Should it not be the concern, if not a fundamental obligation of the Government, to intervene and safeguard the interests of the general public?

DR. NIHAL MUNASINGHE, Colombo 10.

Development goals

The article on 'Millennium Development Goals in Sri Lanka: A Statistical Review' (Daily News, July 25) describes succinctly the efforts of the Department of Census & Statistics to collect data on the subject.

In doing so, they must stay within the eight development goals formulated at the United Nations in 2000.

I wish to ask whether Sri Lanka has formulated any additional goals in keeping with her needs.

Let me mention a few of these:

(1) Self-sufficiency in rice, with corresponding reduction of wheat imports. (2) Mental wellness to be defined and its achievement promoted.(3) Live aesthetic experience to be found by everyone.

V. BASNAYAKE, Colombo 4.

Traffic congestion at Narahenpita junction

I am a regular traveller to Narahenpita. On every occasion I have noticed that vehicle going via Narahenpita junction, will have to wait more than 5 to 7 minutes especially between 6.30 am and 7.30 pm.

This, mainly due to the 141 buses using the terminal at the Labour Secretariat.

Therefore, I suggest the following to reduce the traffic congestion at Narahenpita.

1. To extend route 141 to Rajagiriya Junction, where ample space for turning and parking. Further more residents in Nawala and Rajagiriya face a lot of problems as they do not have a direct bus service to Galle Road. They have to go to either Dehiwala or to Colpetty to get to Galle Road by using 176 or 175 buses respectively. There is no 198 service too now. (Attention-Chairman, Western Province Transport Authority and SSP City Traffic, Colombo).

2. To have the 178 Private Bus Terminal at Polhengoda instead Narahenpita. (CTB buses go to Kohuwela). There is ample space and turning facilities at the Polhengoda traffic lights junction and near Badrawathi Vidyalaya. (Attention:-Chairman, Western Province Transport Authority, SSP City Traffic, Colombo, and OIC Police Station Narahenpita. Now 178 private buses turning their huge buses near the Railway line at Nawala Road causing obstructions on both sides of the Nawala Road, which is highly dangerous.

3. To have Center Media near Asiri Hospital from Commercial Bank up to Survey Department round about. As the Kirula Road is too narrow most of the vehicles coming to the Hospital on the excess road to Anderson Flats and driving straight to the Kirula Road. (Attention:-SSP Traffic, Colombo, Traffic Engineer CMC, and OIC Police Station Narahenpita.)

4. As Kirula Road is narrow to have Indian Parking from Commercial Bank up to Survey Department roundabout. (Attention:-SSP Traffic Colombo)

I have discussed about the above four suggestions with the responsible people and Institutes at Narahenpita and they too agreed to these.

Hope the relevant authorities won't sit on this letter or ignore these suggestions.

These are for the benefit of all the people, vehicles and for the above relevant authorities.

Nilantha Lokupathirage, Colombo 5.

Re-assess convoy operations

It is staggering to ordinary folk like me to even imagine how high value targets are successfully taken out by the LTTE.

When you see how these convoys move in busy highways inside Colombo, how rude the outriders are to the other road users and their wild gesticulations all over the place, really shocks how these security people while pushing the public around do not seem to be able to protect their valuable assets which they are supposed to protect!

I deeply respect the heroic members of our Armed Forces and do not mean any disrespect when I mention this, but, the public have a right to some answers and it is high time that a re-assessment of how these convoys should be operated. We have lost enough valuable people for now.

Please stop this complacency and 'back to business' attitude. It is high time that the security on politicians be scaled down and those assets transferred to valuable Forces personnel. This would be a good first step in the right direction.

MOHAMED SIDEEK, via email.