FG Lists Measures Taken To Control Antimicrobial Resistance In Nigeria
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
Health challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance, the federal government of Nigeria says directly causes 1.27 million deaths and is associated with an additional 3.7 million deaths globally and lists steps it is taking to deal with them.
In a speech to commemorate the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) in Abuja, the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetiba said that since 2017, Nigeria has made strides in its response to the situation which has four deadly antibiotic-resistant pathogens in Nigeria
According to him, the centre in collaboration with the tripartite sectors, has set up an antimicrobial resistance surveillance network, antimicrobial stewardship, and awareness programmes across the country, creating awareness of the situation among healthcare professionals, farmers, and the public.
This, he said is because, “every year, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) directly causes 1.27 million deaths and is associated with an additional 3.7 million deaths. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) including Nigeria bear the brunt of the burden, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the direct death toll.
Recent studies show that more people die directly from AMR than from HIV/AIDS, malaria, or any one form of cancer other than lung cancer with over 99.5 per cent of AMR–related deaths among children under five.
Dr. Ifedayo, noted that the impact of AMR on the economy, health systems and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is enormous hence NCDC has deployed a national Community of Practice for stakeholders in the AMR response space.
He counted other interventions, to include: expanded AMR surveillance sites in Nigeria in the human, animal and environmental sectors and establishment of a national antimicrobial stewardship programme.
The NCDC Director General however noted that antimicrobial agents are essential for food security and the global consumption of antimicrobials is projected to rise by 70 per cent by 2030 and will affect sustainable food production systems if nothing is done.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), notes there are 15 priority antibiotic-resistant pathogens causing the greatest threat to human and animal health; four of which have been detected in Nigeria.
WHO also acknowledged that low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria bear the highest burden of the health problem, accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the direct death toll and declared AMR as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity with nearly 5 million human deaths estimated to be associated with bacterial AMR worldwide in 2019.
The health organisation, stressed that in Nigeria alone, in 2019, there were 64,500 deaths attributable and 263,400 deaths adding that the WAAW week -2023 is an opportunity to come together, raise awareness and strengthen ‘One Health approach’.
