The health department and Taluka Municipal Administration (TMA) Sukkur jointly launched a campaign against stray dogs in Sukkur on Friday. According to DHO, Dr Muneer Ahmed Mangrio, the health department with collaboration of TMA has started the drive in all union councils of the Sukkur. The government also directed to launch an anti-stray dog campaign in Hyderabad and Larkana districts. The step has been taken over the day-by-day increase in dog bite cases across the province. Last month, hearing a petition call for controlling the population of stray dogs and ensuring the availability of free anti-rabies vaccines, a division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar observed that it had already been directed that a complaint cell and a helpline be set up for registering public complaints for taking prompt action, but the task force had not created any helpline despite directions. The court observed the helpline and the cell should be publicised for the information of the public through the print and electronic media. It said that in case of any complaint of a dog-bite incident or dangerous stray dogs, members of the public may lodge their complaints with the helpline, and the task force secretariat would immediately forward the complaints to the DMCs or cantonments for urgent action. The court was requested to direct the provincial and local governments to take necessary steps for vaccination and control of the population of stray dogs as per the world Health Organisation guidelines and ensure a supply of anti-rabies vaccines in the government-run hospitals.