Dog Attack Victims Face Vaccine Shortages and Medical Challenges in Quneitra

Quneitra – Zain al-Joulani

Hassan al-Ghanem was returning home from work just as the sun began to set in the northern countryside of Quneitra when an unexpected incident occurred—he was attacked by a stray dog that managed to bite his foot, even while he was riding his motorcycle.

In the aftermath of the dog bite, Al-Ghanem quickly thought of the potential urgency of his situation. His mind raced with the possibility of rabies, prompting him to hop on his motorcycle and speed towards Abaza Hospital located in the city of al-Baath, the central hub of Quneitra governorate.

The rabies vaccine is an essential, fast-acting injection aimed at preventing viral infection for individuals who have not previously been vaccinated against rabies. The injection is ideally administered as close to the site of the animal bite as possible and should be given immediately after the incident.

Upon reaching the hospital, Al-Ghanem recounted later to Enab Baladi that a nurse at the emergency department welcomed him, promptly began disinfecting the wound, and washed it with soap and water. He was informed that his injury did not necessitate any further medical intervention as the bite was superficial.

However, after a heated exchange with the nurse regarding his need for the rabies vaccine, Al-Ghanem desperately sought connections within the hospital to help him secure the much-needed antidote, apprehensive about possible future complications stemming from the bite.

He lamented, “If I hadn’t found a relative working in the hospital, I would have been unable to obtain the rabies vaccine.”

Dr. Hassan Zitoun, affiliated with Abaza Hospital, affirmed to Enab Baladi that the hospital is available around the clock to handle all cases related to dog bites.

He explained that the treatment of dog bites unfolds in three critical phases over a span of three months. It begins on the first day following the bite, where the patient initially receives two doses of the rabies vaccine. This is followed by a second dose administered seven days later.

A crucial third dose must be administered 21 days after starting treatment, delivered into the deltoid muscle of the arm, with a final booster shot issued three months after the initiation of the treatment regimen.

Dr. Zitoun also highlighted that the rabies vaccine is only given under specific circumstances during the initial hospital visit, with some cases allowing for the administration to be bypassed depending on the severity of the injury.

Shortage of medicines

In a separate but equally alarming incident, a 14-year-old boy named Ali Ammar faced a serious dog bite while accompanying a shepherd in northern Quneitra, resulting in severe injury to his thigh and necessitating immediate transfer to Abaza Hospital. Medical personnel promptly worked to disinfect and wash the wound repeatedly to prevent infection.

The child’s father recounted to Enab Baladi that both the on-call doctor and the attending nurse refused to stitch the wound. Their primary concern focused on daily washing and disinfecting to mitigate the risk of infection.

After a lengthy search that lasted over an hour, the doctor finally located a rabies dose for Ali. However, he informed the family that another necessary dose was unavailable at the hospital, and there was a possibility it might arrive through the Ministry of Health in the upcoming days.

A nurse at Abaza Hospital, Bahaa, told Enab Baladi that the distribution of the vaccine and serum hinges entirely on the Ministry of Health. In absence of available doses, patients must be referred to the nearest government facility or health center, which is tasked with providing essential medical services.

He elaborated that procuring medicines and vaccines is centralized, and hospitals are restricted from independently securing their medical supplies without going through the Ministry of Health.

Ali’s family expressed urgency and concern, calling upon advisory units and local officials to address the growing problem of stray dogs, which poses a significant danger to children and families, particularly during nighttime hours. They urged for necessary medications to be stocked at Abaza Hospital and health centers, highlighting that many families face challenges traveling between various towns and villages in the governorate.

Lack of medical services

Mamdouh Abaza Hospital stands as the sole government medical facility in al-Baath city, located within Quneitra governorate in southern Syria. Established in response to the persistent shortage of medical services in the area since the demolition of the Golan Hospital in Quneitra city in 1967, the hospital now caters to the healthcare needs of the local populace.

Despite its importance, residents continuously report dissatisfaction due to the poor quality of medical services offered, along with complaints about inadequate staffing, lack of operational oversight, and rampant corruption affecting the hospital’s operations.

Since regime forces regained control following the settlement agreement brokered by Russian authorities in July 2018, Quneitra has suffered significantly in its healthcare sector. The area has faced a marked decline in available medical facilities, including the closure of numerous field hospitals that had once served the opposition in past years.

Furthermore, the absence of specialized on-call doctors in clinics throughout Quneitra compels patients to undertake arduous journeys, often exceeding 50 kilometers. They must navigate challenging travel conditions and endure lengthy waits at military checkpoints just to reach the singular available medical facility, Abaza Hospital.

When Dogs Attack: A Comedy of Errors in Quneitra

Ah, Quneitra! It’s a place where the sunsets might be beautiful, the landscapes captivating, yet, all that charm can’t shield you from being ambushed by a stray dog mid-commute! Which brings us to our leading actor in this dramatic tale, Hassan al-Ghanem, a man whose two-wheeled steed was no match for four-legged terror.

Hassan al-Ghanem was returning from work before sunset in the northern countryside of Quneitra when he was attacked by a stray dog that managed to bite his foot, even though he was riding a motorcycle.

Now, you might think, “Surely, a motorcycle is faster than a dog?” Well, apparently, in Quneitra, that’s not always the case! Hassan’s immediate thought was not to question how it all went wrong but to make a mad dash for the hospital. I mean, rabies isn’t exactly something you want to add to your shopping list for the day, is it?

The Rabies Race

Upon his arrival at the illustrious Abaza Hospital—the crown jewel of medical facilities in the area—he found himself knee-deep in bureaucracy and a good dose of luck. Thankfully, the nurse started disinfecting his bite (not the most romantic first date scenario), but wait! Not even a rabies shot for our brave biker? Just a superficial wound, she said.

But, hang on a minute! With rabies lurking just around the corner, Hassan didn’t really want to play roulette with his health. After what can only be described as an Olympic-level sprint through hospital politics, he managed to pull a family connection from his pocket to secure that precious antidote. The moral of the story? Always know someone at the hospital. A little nepotism never hurt anyone—unless it’s your relative trying to stitch you up!

A Pitying Puppy’s Legacy

In another gripping chapter, we meet Ali Ammar, a 14-year-old who learned the hard way that accompanying shepherds can come with millennia-old perils—namely, being bitten by a dog. Now, let’s pause here. Can we talk about how nothing says “childhood” like getting mauled by a rabid canine?

“If I hadn’t found a connection, I would not have been able to get the rabies vaccine.”

Ali’s situation quickly spiraled into a situation that even the finest soap opera writers would deem a bit overdramatic. The on-call doctor turned the boy away from getting stitches in the hopes of avoiding post-bite infections—a decision which left the family distressed and the dog’s owner probably questioning their life choices.

Shortages and Stray-dogs

In a twist that no one saw coming, the rabies vaccine turned out to be in short supply! Just imagine that: a hospital running on hope and prayers like a vintage barbershop quartet sells haircuts. Ali’s family was told another dose might arrive “any day now.” We can try our luck with that, right?

As it turns out, the only government hospital in the region, Mamdouh Abaza, has been around since 1967 (and you’d think they’d have sorted out their supply chain by now). They’re the go-to spot for medical emergencies, surrounded by tales of shortages, poor services, and an overwhelming air of “what the heck just happened?”

The Final Act: More Murmurs of Discontent

As the curtain falls on our Quneitra saga, it’s important to remember: the struggle here is real. With a health infrastructure staggeringly centralized—meaning if the Ministry of Health says “no,” then it’s a hard pass on that rabies shot—you’re left wondering if comedy is indeed the only thing keeping this situation from being utterly tragic.

In conclusion, the tale of Hassan and Ali serves as a stark reminder against the backdrop of a cute dog with very questionable intentions. While governments might overlook public health for political agendas, you can bet your last chocolate biscuit that the next time you hear someone say, “it’s just a dog bite,” you’ll think of Quneitra. And that’s anything but superficial!

Milar comedy of errors. After a dog decided that Ali’s ⁤thigh looked like a tasty snack, he was rushed to Abaza ⁤Hospital for immediate care. Now, one might expect that in a facility frequented by ‍the community,​ surgical procedures would be⁣ commonplace. Yet, after ‌repeatedly washing and disinfecting his bite, the staff decided⁢ that stitching would be too mainstream for their young patient. Instead, they focused on rinsing the wound like‍ it was a delicate piece of clothing!

And ‌what’s ⁤that? Oh yes, the ‍rabies vaccine—an absolute necessity in this riveting ⁣saga. After​ more than an hour of searching, the doctor finally⁤ found a single dose. But ​it turns out that finding the second dose was akin to searching for the⁤ Holy Grail. “Maybe it’ll ​arrive from the Ministry of Health,” they said, leaving Ali’s family to⁣ ponder whether ⁣they should have packed a lunch for ‌this adventure.

Ali’s father, caught somewhere between exasperation and disbelief, ‍shared‌ their plight with⁤ anyone who would ‌listen. Family⁢ members were calling for help, demanding that local officials addressed the alarming rise of stray dogs roaming around, particularly ​when it came to unsafe five-star‌ outdoor ‌dining experiences for children. It’s a jungle out there, folks—literally.

The One and Only Hospital

You see, in al-Baath city, ⁢the shining beacon of hope is Mamdouh Abaza Hospital, the sole government medical facility in‍ the Quneitra⁣ governorate. ‍Established after⁤ the‌ unceremonious departure⁢ of the⁣ Golan Hospital from the map,⁣ one would assume it would be an illustrious establishment. Alas, the residents paint a different picture, rife⁣ with tales of insufficient staff,⁣ a disorganized system, and claims of glaring corruption that make ⁤your average soap opera seem tame.

Given the circumstances ⁣following the regime forces’ return in 2018, Quneitra’s healthcare ‌has been⁣ skewed, with⁣ too few⁤ facilities left to handle ‍the needs of the ⁢local⁤ population. Patients,‌ like eager adventurers, find themselves trekking more than 50 kilometers over perilous terrain just to receive treatment at this one⁣ government hospital—because who wouldn’t want to navigate through military checkpoints for a urgent dog bite?

One can only‍ conclude that whilst Quneitra might be rich⁣ in​ landscape ⁤beauty, the medical care situation is in dire need of ‍a heroic rescue—preferably not from the very fanged ⁣fiends that initially caused the chaos. So, to all the future travelers and dear residents alike, be ⁣mindful and keep an ⁣eye out for your furry friends because in this town, they have a ⁣knack for keeping your life interesting… or⁤ at least, following⁣ the script ​of a comedy play gone awry!