Special medical board formed for child mauled by stray dogs

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Sindh Health Secretary Zahid Ali Abbasi on Monday separately visited the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) to inquire after the health of six-year-old Hasnain and assured his parents of complete support on behalf of both the federal and provincial governments, saying the authorities would go to any length for the treatment of the injured child and his rehabilitation.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah constituted a 10-member medical board comprising surgeons and specialists from public and private hospitals to examine the condition of injured Hasnain, who is battling for life at the NICH after he was mauled by five to six stray dogs in Larkana and shifted to Karachi where he was operated upon and put on life support.

Director NICH Prof Jamal Raza and a team of surgeons and doctors briefed the federal and provincial officials about the condition of Hasnain, saying the boy was currently on life support and a team of experts was attending to him.

He said that when the patient came out of danger, the medical board would review his health condition and decide about any future course of treatment and surgeries. Governor Imran Ismail, after visiting Hasnain, expressed concern over growing incidents of bog bites in Sindh and said the provincial government should take effective measures to control the population of stray dogs.

“I have come to enquire about the health of injured Hasnain, and I have been told that his condition is still critical. MNA Aftab Siddiqui would bear all the expenses on the treatment of the injured child and if required he can be shifted anywhere for treatment,” the governor said, adding that doctors were trying their best to save the life of the child. He maintained that controlling the population of stray dogs had become inevitable at the moment, not only in Sindh but in the entire country, but this issue had become a “double-edged sword”, as if dogs were culled, it became an animal rights issue and if they were not controlled, they attacked humans and seriously injured them.

“Nowadays, the population of stray dogs is controlled by neutering them and in this regard an effective campaign is required. The federal government is ready to provide whatever resources and assistance is needed in this regard,” he said and added that the federal government would also provide financial assistance to the family of Hasnain.

Earlier, Health Secretary Zahid Ali Abbasi visited the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) and enquired after the health of Hasnain and assured his family that all possible measures were being taken to save his life.

Health Secretary Zahid Abbasi assured the father of the boy, Ghulam Hussain, not to worry as the government was fully aware of the health needs of his child and doctors from different top institutions were trying to save his life.

Special board formed

On the directives of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the health department constituted a special medical board comprising 10 top surgeons, including, pediatric, plastic and maxillofacial surgeons.

To be headed by pediatric surgeon Dr Jamshed Akhtar from the National Institute of Child Health, the board consists of Dr Anwar Arain, Dr Ghulam Shabir and Dr Jahan-e-Alam from the JPMC, Dr Anwar Ali from the DUHS, Dr Mazhar Nizam from Patel Hospital, Dr Shahab Baig from the LNH, Dr Jahanzeb Moghal, Dr Aziz ur Rehman and Prof Tariq Rafi, ENT surgeon and VC of the JSMU.