Misuse Of Medication Responsible For Human Resistance To Treatment – Experts Warn, List Risks Involved
A veterinary doctor from the ministry of agriculture, Dr Abiodun Abatan has identified improper use of medication as a major factor responsible for resistance to anti-microbial drugs in both human and animals.
Resistance to antimicrobial drugs, including the commonly used antibiotics, has become a global health challenge that poses grave risks to the public.
Dr Abatan stated this on Wednesday during a sensitization talk to students of Humani Alaga Secondary school, Samonda, Ibadan, organized by USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, in partnership with Oyo State government to commemorate the 2023 World Anti microbial Resistance Day, being celebrated between 18th to 24th November, every year.
Dr Abatan who said many people have grown resistance against antibiotics because of their abuse, overdose and underdose usage of drugs, explained that anyone with such case would not be able to respond to medications fast during treatment.
He highlighted other factors responsible for drug resistance to include poor infection control in hospitals and improper use of drugs, noting that bacteria, viruses or germs would grow resistance over time if people continue to overburden their bodies with medications that do not follow prescription.
Dr Abatan who stated that antimicrobial drugs are used in treating viruses, germs, parasite among others, expressed concern that many people who treat malaria and Tuberculosis longer than expected would have grown resistance against the medication administered on them.
Also speaking, Oyo state coordinator, World Health Organization, WHO, Dr Zorto Philip, represented by the organization’s Surveillance Officer, Dr Maxwell Obeka said Antimicrobial-resistant infections caused 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019.
Dr. Zorto said Sub-Saharan African countries bear the highest burden of AMR-associated death rates at 99 deaths per 100 000 people.
“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when disease-causing germs stop responding to frequently prescribed antimicrobial medicines. It jeopardizes our ability to treat common infections, increases the cost of treatment, and disrupts the progress we have made in combating diseases, posing a grave challenge to our communities, health systems, and economies.
“We need to take urgent action and address the main causes of AMR, which include misuse and abuse of antimicrobial medicines, lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene; poor infection prevention and control practices; inadequate use of vaccines to decrease infections; inadequate laboratory capacity including equipment and reagents to guide proper treatment; poor waste disposal practices; and the presence of antimicrobials in food-animal production and crop protection as well as the environment and water bodies.
Earlier in a remark, Oyo state director of public health, Dr. Akintunde Babatunde, representing the permanent secretary in the ministry of health, said the state government was determined to continue to reduce the prevalence of quackery in the state which he described as one of the factors responsible for increase in antimicrobial resistance in the state
He reiterated the commitment of the state government to sustaining and creating conducive environment for USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria and other development partners in the state.
Reacting, Oyo state coordinator, USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Mrs Oluwatoyin Afachung said the purpose of the programme was to create awareness and raise ambassadors among secondary school students, who are expected to spread the information to their families and members of their communities.
