URLABARI (Morang) Jan 31: The Mangalbare Hospital based at Urlabari of Morang is facing an acute shortage of post-rabies exposure vaccine and immunization dose. 

The patients arriving at the hospital are forced to seek expensive treatment at private clinics. They are paying Rs 600 for an injection which is provided cost-free at the hospital. 

The Division of Communicable Disease Control (DCDC) had dispatched 150 immunization doses to the hospital through the Eastern Regional Medical Store which was only enough for 30 patients. At least two rabies' patients visit the Mangalbare Hospital per day, Hospital's acting Chief, Dr Raj Jha said. 

"The number of patients in a month crosses 60, but the doses provided by the government is enough for treating only 30," he added. The rabies immunization doses are given five times – on the first day, third, seventh, fourteenth and twenty eighth. 

The Mangalbare Hospital treats rabies patients from Jhapa's Damak, Ilam and Morang's Itahara, Sijuwa, Madhumalla, Ramitekhola and Letangbhogateni, according to Dr Jha. 

The Koshi Zonal Hospital, Rangeli Hospital and Mangalbare Hospital in Morang district provide cost-free post-rabies immunization dose. RSS 

 
• mangalbare hospital
 
• shortage
 
• rabies post-exposure vaccines