TDT | Manama
Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
In yet another tragic incident, a 55-year-old nurse in Bahrain was the victim of a stray dog attack while returning home from work late at night. A nurse who contacted the Daily Tribune to shed light on the pervasive problem of stray dogs narrated her own harrowing experience.
Recalling the terrifying night, she said: “As I was walking back from the Salmaniya Medical Complex, as I approached the Manama Police Fortress, I noticed two dogs across the street. I continued on my way. Suddenly, a dog lunged at me and bit the calf muscle of my right leg.”
As she struggled to maintain her balance, she stumbled and fell onto the road. She immediately called an ambulance for her as her police officer and concerned people around her rushed to her aid. The nurse added: “Her uniform was torn in the attack.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctor prescribed antibiotics. However, I was surprised to learn that rabies vaccinations are not administered in Bahrain. I live alone and my family including my girlfriend’s husband lives in India, but fear grips me. ”
Determined to get proper medical care, she learned that Saudi Arabia offers rabies vaccines. As a result, she obtained a multiple entry visa and covered all costs of approximately BD125. She has now received three doses of the vaccine, and she plans to travel to Saudi Arabia to receive her fourth dose this Thursday.
Despite receiving treatment, the nurse continues to endure the pain of a wound that has not yet healed. As a result, she faces challenges in fulfilling her duties. Her coworkers are unable to come to work some days, so they are having trouble finding suitable replacements.
Immediate response
Meanwhile, Daily Tribune contacted Fathiyah Al Bastaki, an animal activist known for her work with stray dogs across Bahrain. She asked for her own views on resolving such issues and she stressed the need for the authorities to take immediate action. “To prevent further complaints, authorities must remove all stray dogs from residential areas and move them to safer areas,” Fatiyah said. Just dumping these dogs on Askar is not the solution. ”
She expressed her disappointment and highlighted that the authorities’ promise to provide shelter for stray dogs for five years has not been fulfilled. “They need to allocate a whole new area to house these dogs and make sure they have the food and water they need. As activists, we cannot bear this burden any longer.” added Fatiyah.
The problem of misinformation
Additionally, she addressed the issue of misinformation surrounding stray dogs, saying, “Many people falsely claim that stray dogs are aggressive and hostile in nature. However, if a dog is provoked or feels threatened, This is not true unless you do. People often lie to cover up their mistakes or falsely blame stray dogs.”
The fate of Bahrain’s stray dogs hangs in the balance as a victim nurse continues her fight for recovery and animal activists call for swift action. It remains to be seen whether authorities will take decisive action to address the growing concerns and ensure the safety of both residents and animals.