Physical Address
Indirizzo: Via Mario Greco 60, Buttigliera Alta, 10090, Torino, Italy
Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudene.
The wilaya of Oum El Bouaghi is in shock after the tragic death of two children, victims of bites inflicted by a rabid dog as well as many other seriously injured. Faced with this drama that has upset the whole region, the Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudene, has moved, this Mercrdi, in order to assess the situation and support the proven families. This first official outing of the Minister, the day after his appointment, has taken on a symbolic and urgency character.
Aït Messaoudene said he will not “spare any effort to mobilize all the available medical resources” noting “the importance of reactivity and rigor in the face of this type of situation that brings together citizens’ life, especially children”, during his tour in hospitals in the wilaya of Oum El Bouaghi, where several wounded wounded who have undergone wandering dog bits. Accompanied by local officials and medical teams, Aït Messaouden spoke with doctors, nurses and health officials in order to ensure strict compliance with care protocols.
Before the families of patients, the minister wanted to issue a message of appeasement, arguing that “the state is by your side. We ensure that each patient receives attentive follow -up and care in accordance with national standards. All conditions are met to ensure their recovery. »»
Beyond the medical aspect, the minister wanted to express his deep compassion by presenting the most sincere condolences to the families bereaved by the loss of their children. He also expressed all his solidarity with the families of the wounded still hospitalized, wishing them “a speedy recovery and a rapid return to a normal life”.
The Minister also announced that at the end of his visit, Professor Aït Messaoudène announced that a prevention plan would soon be presented. This should include better coordination between the health, agriculture and environmental sectors, as well as a stricter monitoring of campaigns anti-rabic vaccination Intensification of awareness campaigns, and work with local communities to combat the phenomenon of stray dogs
As a reminder, the first victim, Nadir Bouzid, 12, had been attacked a few days ago by a rabid dog who seriously injured him in the head and eye. Despite an emergency hospitalization and a transfer to Constantine, his condition deteriorated before it was transported to the Mohamed Boudiaf hospital, where he died this Wednesday morning. The second victim, Mohamed Allache, 7 years old and residing in Bir Kchiba commune of Oum El Bouaghi, succumbed yesterday after his transfer from Mohamed Boudiaf Hospital to that of Constantine. These two deaths, which occurred a few hours apart, aroused great emotion among the inhabitants, recalling with cruelty the persistent rage.
Following this tragedy, the wilaya of Oum El Bouaghi announced the implementation of a follow -up cell in order to manage the crisis and stem any risk of propagation of rabies. This unit brings together the secretary general of the wilaya, the general inspection, representatives of the security services, the director of health and the population, the director of agriculture, the director of the environment, as well as the authorities of the daïra and the commune. Its mission will be to coordinate interventions in the field, ensure the emergency vaccination of exposed persons and plan reinforced preventive measures.
It should be noted that rabies, a fatal viral disease but preventable by vaccination, remains a public health problem, especially in rural areas where stray dogs proliferate. Veterinary and health services regularly multiply prevention and vaccination campaigns, but recent cases highlight the urgency of strengthening these devices. For the inhabitants of the wilaya of Oum El Bouaghi, still upset by the death of two innocent children, the Minister’s commitments represent a promise of action. But beyond words, this drama challenges the urgency of taking firm and durable measures to eradicate this scourge.