A STATE derives its legitimacy from its ability to safeguard its people from preventable harm — whether arising from disease, unsafe environments, violence or systemic neglect. In ‘Shehla Zia vs Wapda’ (1994), the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared that the right to life includes the right to a healthy and safe environment, and preventive measures should be taken to ensure the safety and security of citizens. If that is the standard of care and precaution mandated by law, why is the state indifferent to nearly 400,000 citizens who suffer dog-bites each year, resulting in around 1,000 preventable deaths?
Trapped in a cycle of post-accident reactive responses, we push for dog-bite care units, dog-bite emergency departments
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