9-year-old boy dies after being bitten by stray dog

NYAGATARE - A 9-year -old boy from Musheri sector in Nyagatare District died at Mutoma Health Centre after being bitten by a stray dog. Martin Ndamyumugabe, the assistant director of Mutoma Health Centre, said Fidele Ndagijimana, who was bitten by the dog last week, died before being transferred to Nyagatare Hospital. According to Ndamyumugabe, 12 other residents have previously been attacked or bitten by stray dogs. “This boy who died is a second victim after his brother was also killed by dogs recently. This problem is a big threat to residents which needs to be solved with utmost urgency,” he said. He added that the problem is that the health centre just provides first aid to patients before they are admitted to Nyagatare Hospital for treatment. “Authorities should immediately intervene and have these dogs treated for the purposes of checking this worrying trend,” he said. The sector veterinary official, Faustin Mabwire, said that residents have been sensitised to take all their dogs for mass immunisation. “We have mobilised residents to start immunisation of dogs. We have so far embarked on this programme in some areas,” he said. In reaction to the incidence residents, however, complained that the sector leadership is not keen on handling the problem. Ends