The Citizen (Juba)
Editorial
23 December 2011
The issue of dogs roaming the streets of Juba especially the markets is being talked about by many residents of the capital.
The situation is very worrisome because most of the canines have bleaching skins and only veterinary doctors can tell whether this is a kind of leprosy or another kind of ailment.
It is high time that the public health authorities in the town of Juba take drastic steps to get rid of these sickly dogs before their conditions which have deteriorated so much do not affect human beings. It is now several months that this situation of dogs with open wounds or bleaching skins have been witnessed moving around even in restaurants and entering under dining tables.
It must be pointed out that their conditions are threatening human health and unless something is done to avert any health hazard nobody can tell what will happen. It is a common practice that when dogs have multiplied too many in a town and they have become stray without any owners who take care and control them the public health authorities take steps to reduce their number so that only those with owners who keep them healthy and under control in their residences can be spared.
Stray dogs are a source of disease spread especially when they are rabid dogs which can bite and infect human beings with their type of sickness. This must be avoided by eliminating them. The authorities should carry out a town survey and acquaint themselves with the situation of the canines before they become too dangerous to human beings.
The city of Juba falls under the jurisdiction of the Mayor and it is believed during his inspection visit of the city His Honour might have seen the deplorable conditions of the dogs which are found in all parts of the town.
These dogs portray the image of the city badly and their presence gives the impression that we are not concerned with our health and yet we have qualified people who can advise us in matters concerning health.
We also have veterinary doctors who can investigate the conditions of these dogs and give necessary advice on how to tackle them to their colleagues in the government. We have children walking to schools in the city and we must know that dogs when they become rabid victimize children because they vulnerable and cannot defend themselves.
For all the above mentioned reasons there is a great need for the office of the mayor to take action against this multitude of dogs which roam the streets of the capital.
The authorities should concern themselves with this issue and act now before the dogs become too dangerous to human beings as even now they present serious health worry to the residents of the capital.
From time to time these dogs also cause traffic accidents by crossing the roads while the traffic is very busy and sometimes in an effort to avoid knocking a dog a driver can go astray from the road and cause a more serious accident.
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