FG, FAO unveil five-year antimicrobial resistance plan

The Federal Government has unveiled a national strategic plan on antimicrobial resistance, spanning from 2023-2027, saying its threat is growing at an alarming rate, as evidenced by drug resistance which makes the treatment of ailments challenging in Nigeria.

Unveiling the policy in Abuja, Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, explained that antibiotics play a critical role in reducing the burden of communicable diseases all over the world, adding that drug resistance is a major public health problem here.

Salako declared: “We are gathering today to mark a significant milestone in our fight against antimicrobial resistance. It is growing and calls for global action to monitor and control the unnecessary use of antibiotics in humans and animals in our environment.

“The economic costs of AMR are quite significant. The World Bank estimates that it could result in $1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and $1 trillion to $3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year in the next six years.”

The minister stated that antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat to global health and security, stressing that the time has come for the sector to come up to speed as it has received limited focus compared to other ‘One Health’ sectors with regard to AMR management.

He, therefore, called upon implementing institutions, bilateral and multilateral partners, civil society, and the private sector to join the government in the implementation drive of the policy and jointly step up action to tackle AMR in the Nigerian environment.

Contributing, Mr. Dominique K. Kouacou of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) noted that the antimicrobial resistance scourge has affected humans, animals, plants, and the environment, saying that 10 million people would die annually by the year 2050.

Kouacou also stressed that the economies of nations will be negatively affected if this challenge is not mitigated, so it is important for countries to put in place actions that will reduce and control its scourge, urging all sectors to participate actively in the implementation.

He added that this is the reason that the FAO supported the Federal Ministry of Environment in developing the National AMR Policy and the National Strategic Plan, hoping this will assist in enhancing the capacity and capabilities of the environment sector.

Lead Consultant, Dr. Ibrahim Yusuf of Bayero University, Kano argued that this is one of the greatest threats faced by humankind and it occurs when microorganisms that cause infections resist the effects of antibiotics meant to kill them.

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