Accra, Ghana, November 19, 2019//-The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations today joined the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ghana Health Service (GHS) and other stakeholders to mark this year’s World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) in the country.
The week seeks to increase global awareness of antibiotic resistance (AMR) and encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of AMR.
Dr Kofi Afakye, a technical officer with the FAO who read a speech for the Deputy Regional Representative of FAO Africa, Ms Jocelyn Brown Hall, underscored the importance of antimicrobials for animal health and welfare.
“Humans rely on animals for food, fibre, work, entertainment, and companionship; therefore, animal health is crucial for ensuring food safety, public health, food security and adequate nutrition for people and helps to alleviate poverty”, Ms Hall, said.
“To achieve this, FAO collaborates with governments to work every day on disease prevention and improved antimicrobial stewardship”.
Proper use of and access to high quality antimicrobials and appropriate oversight of ordering, storage, prescribing and dispensing antimicrobials are common concerns for all animal health stakeholders and should be focused on AMR activities, Ms Hall added.
She however acknowledged that there was a risk that the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in animals may contribute to the development of AMR, which could negatively affect humans, animals and the environment.
Activities to mark the week
As part of activities to mark the week, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) and some civil society organizations would organize programmes throughout the country on antibiotics.
A community will also take place at Teshie on Thursday this week, where members of the public would be educated on abuse, and overuse of antibiotics and its consequences, to be accompanied by screening.
Also, there would be engagement of private sector including hair dressers, market women, among others on responsible use of antibiotics.
Collaboration
FAO is collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to conduct a study on behaviour chang eof farmers in antimicrobials use in poultry production in Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Intervention strategies would be put in place to promote antimicrobial stewardship among Ghanaian farmers to guarantee food safety and food security for Ghanaians.
AMR endangers SDGs progress
Acting World Health Organisation Country Representative for Ghana, Dr Neena Rusibamayila Kimambo warned: “AMR endangers health security and our progress with SDGs towards Universal Health Coverage, by threatening to reverse medical advances of the 20th century”.
She continues: “It reduces our ability to treat diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea and cancer. AMR also threatens our ability to conduct surgeries and to care for premature babies”.
Deaths cause by AMR
The silent AMR pandemic according to her is already to 700,000 deaths worldwide each year.
“Left unchecked, AMR could cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. People living in developing countries and those fragile countries, affected by conflict and violence are particularly vulnerable”, Dr Kimambo added.
“We are seeing high resistance to common pathogens such as 98% fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli, meaning, there are limited treatment options for people that get this infection”.
Key challenges in combating AMR
The key challenges in combating AMR Dr Kimambo mentioned include: weak regulatory systems facilitating proliferation of substandard and falsified medicines; limited implementation of standards for clean water, environmental sanitation and hygiene; poor infection and control practices; and a lack of reliable surveillance data.
WHO and partners are working with countries to address these challenges by implementing the “One Health” National Action Plans.
These plans she explained bring together different sectors and disciplines to build stronger regulatory systems, to educate and create awareness, to improve surveillance, research and development, and to develop policies to promote appropriate antibiotic use among humans, livestock and agriculture and to provide safe environments for all.
“WHO has accorded emphasis on working on Antimicrobial resistance as reflected in its General Program and Organisational Structuring. Together, we need to accelerate action to reduce the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant infections”.
Dr Kimambo lauded Ghana for being one of the countries that had developed and launched a national policy and a comprehensive national action plan on antimicrobial use and resistance in one health with support from the tripartite and a vibrant multi-stakeholder AMR platform.
Minister of Health
Ghana’s Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu noted that the platform of key stakeholders with respect to antimicrobial resistance is functional at implementing interventions targeted at curbing resistance.
“There are ongoing activities in the area of surveillance and laboratory strengthening funded by the Fleming Fund”.
He added that work was beginning and ongoing in other strategic areas including stakeholder engagements, infection prevention and control practices, and antimicrobial stewardship programmes.
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report
