Health professionals are urging concerned bodies to act early on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) prevention and containment because it is posing grave global threat to human, animal and plant health and the environment.
According to documents globally AMR is causing an estimated 700 000 deaths every year; and high economic costs due to its health burden. Failing to tackle antimicrobial resistance could, by 2050, cause an estimated 10 million deaths a year and cost up to 100 trillion USD. The highest impact likely will be in Asia and Africa, which likely will account for estimated 4.7 million and 4.2 million deaths respectively.
In cognizant of the seriousness of the case, the Ministry of Health has been working unwaveringly to address the challenges through advocating proper use of antibiotics and mobilizing communities to improve health literacy.
As part of this sustained effort, the Ministry has recently organized a consultative workshop for media professionals on AMR prevention and containment.
Speaking on the occasion, AMR Prevention and Containment Advisor with the Ethiopia Food and Drug Authority, Wondie Alemu said that AMR is posing a challenge to human wellbeing and it is becoming one of the pressing public health concerns. Unless the needed measure is taken in advance, and acted accordingly, it could wipe out human beings and damage the health system of countries.
“Though Ethiopia was one of the pioneers in developing Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Containment Strategy, the recorded performance is minimal. More work should be done in enhancing and improving health services and increasing awareness towards the problem.”
Moreover, efforts should be further strengthened to control the illicit drug transaction across the borders and the import of substandard antibiotics, he added.
According to him, organisms, such as bacteria have become increasingly resistant to many antibiotics in recent years.
“Although antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon, the process of resistance is accelerated by overuse and misuse of antibiotics, and intercontinental travel.”
He also called on stakeholders to act early otherwise there will be another tsunami because of AMR, he concludes.
The media has the power to arm communities with health literacy and help them develop skills on how to obtain, process, and understand the health information necessary to make informed health decisions.
Countries with a high number of informed population yet low GDP have the highest ability to apply these skills to heath situations than countries with super GDP. The difference is the effort made on improving health literacy.
Health Minister’s AMR Focal Person Tesfaye Yeheyis also said that the Ministry, in collaboration with pertinent stakeholders, is working to increase health literacy and address the burden of AMR.
The Ministry is keeping on working joining hands with stakeholders. Realizing the widespread of and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and the grave consequences on the country’s health, economy and security, the incumbent joined the global community in seeking to better understand and disable the threat.
The country launched a National Strategy for the Prevention and Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance in 2011.
As per the strategy, the government has put in place a framework with this strategic plan to address the threats that antimicrobial resistance poses to the welfare of the people and livestock of Ethiopia. The strategic plan sets out a coordinated and collaborative ‘One Health’ approach, involving key stakeholders in government and other sectors. The national AMR advisory committee is keeping on coordinating the work to be done and monitor the progress.
This year the Ministry of Health is planning to organize a number of platforms starting from October 17, 2023, targeting to arm communities and health professionals’ towards AMR prevention and containment.
The Ministry is advocating for appropriate use of antibiotics. Enquiring health service professionals both in human and animal as well as pharmacists to discharge duties and responsibilities as per the set standards is vital.
According to him, the Ministry is seeking to work with range entities, the communities, health sector institutions; development partners and media houses to improve health literacy.
It is high time to act early, because it has the potential to emerge as a serious healthcare threat and transform into another pandemic if left unchecked.
“We had set up a collaboration platform along with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Protection Authority to prevent and contain AMR through organized fashion.”
The impact of AMR is not limited to a single country; rather, it is boundless to the boundary. It is affecting the efficacy of antibacterial agents making the treatment of patients difficult, costly, or even impossible. The impact on susceptible patients is more obvious, resulting in prolonged illness and even mortality.
Ministry of Agriculture AMR Focal Person Gashaw Adane for his part said that antibiotics are also widely used in animal health. The availability and use of antibiotics is of vital importance in protecting animal health and welfare, increasing productivity and facilitating the production of safe, nutritious food. If antibiotics lose their efficacy, there is a lack of suitable medicines that farmers can avail of to protect animal health and welfare. This will impact on farm productivity and profitability.
According to him, we should combine efforts to reduce AMR transmission along the food chain in food and agriculture through improving health literacy among the concerned bodies and the community at large.
Acting Public Relations and Communication CEO with the Ministry of Health Yordanos Alebachew for his part said that working with media houses to reach the communities in the hinterlands is critical because it helps to create an informed community that could make decisions.
The Ministry will continue working along with stakeholders to improve the health literacy of the society via media.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2023
