NAFDAC warns Nigerians: Abuse of antibiotics can result in death
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has decried the increase in the irrational use of antibiotics.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, according to the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, in a statement on Sunday, said this on Friday at the virtual 2021 World Antimicrobial Resistance Week anniversary with the theme, ‘Spread Awareness Stop Resistance’.
The statement quoted Adeyeye as sounding a strong note of warning that if allowed to continue, antimicrobial resistance could lead to death.
The statement said Adeyeye added that the war against antimicrobial resistance had not only gained prominence and global attention, but had also become a significant battle that the human race must win.
The DG was quoted as saying, “In view of this fact, I am delighted to be part of this battle and welcome all our esteemed stakeholders to the front line of this battle. Creating awareness amidst us all is a major step in the AMR stewardship by relevant stakeholders to effectively stop resistance. The step is unique and is expected, not only to redirect our way of handling and using of antimicrobial agents, but also to yield a significant reduction in the incidence of AMR.
“NAFDAC is using the stakeholders’ meeting to mark her participation in the year 2021 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week by targeting professionals in the healthcare sector, veterinarians, animal husbandry professionals in livestock production, plant pathologists and individuals that use antimicrobial agents.”
Adeyeye expressed dismay that the development and proliferation of antimicrobial resistance, which is the ability of pathogenic microorganism to resist the effect of antimicrobial agents when used to treat internal or external infections in both human and animal population, had compromised the ability of antimicrobials to effectively treat infectious diseases as expected.
“The emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens continue to weaken the health system,” she lamented. Punch
