Stray dogs threaten lives at Mzuzu Hospital
Women at Mzuzu Central Hospital’s (MCH) guardian shelter want veterinarians to swiftly deal with stray dogs which attack both patients and guardians.
On Tuesday, the occupants’ leader, Nancy Moyo, said the dogs have become a nuisance as they wander into their bedrooms and kitchens in search of food.
“Some of the rooms have no doors. When we are fast asleep, dogs come to search for food. This leaves our patients starving. We wonder what the hospital authorities are doing about it. We have reported the matter to them many times,” she said.
Keddings Ngoma, who supervises the caregivers at the overcrowded shelter, said the dogs, from surrounding settlements, often bite people as they scramble for leftovers as well as unwashed napkins, clothes, blankets and plates.
MCH spokesperson Arnold Kaira said both patients and guardians have been attacked by the dogs.
“The danger is that we don’t know the owners of these dogs and we are not sure if they are vaccinated for rabies,” he said.
He said hospital authorities have already written the veterinary office to eliminate the dogs.
Mzuzu Agricultural Development Division (Mzadd) acting chief animal health officer Wailings Munthali said: “At first, we went to shoot the dogs, but they ran away. Hospital officials said they will notify us when the stray dogs regroup, but they have not come back to us.” n
