Oyo State Government in collaboration with Breakthrough Action- Nigeria (BA-N) and USAID have taken the campaign against antimicrobial resistance to Umani Alaga Secondary School, in Sango, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, on Wednesday, 22nd November, 2023 in commemoration of the 2023 World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness week.
During the sensitization lecture held at the school hall, Oyo State Director of Public Health, Dr. BABATUNDE AKINTUNDE explained that the misuse and overdose of drugs against the proper prescription by medical practitioners can lead to ineffectiveness of such drugs, leaving the host with stronger microorganisms.
According to him, the state government is trying to make sure that the masses properly differentiate between illnesses, through testing, to allow proper medication.
On his part, W.H.O. State coordinator, ZORTO PHILIPS, who was represented by Surveillance Officer, OBEKA MAXWELL, said antimicrobial resistance jeopardizes the ability to treat common infections, increases the cost of treatment, and disrupts the progress made in combating diseases, posing a grave challenge to our communities, health systems, and economies.
Philips also said that efforts are ongoing to optimize antimicrobial use in healthcare facilities through integrated antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs and over 70 health personnel from DRC, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zambia have been trained on implementing practical, cost-effective, and sustainable antimicrobial stewardship programs in healthcare facilities.
State Coordinator, (BA-N) OLUWATOYIN AFACHUNG, who hailed the teachers for their continuous participation in involving the students in various health programmes, also emphasized the need to educate the young ones to desist from using drugs not prescribed by medical experts.
Also speaking after giving the main lecture to the students, Veterinary Dr. ABATAN ABIODUN warned people not to consume animals placed on medication, as the residue of the medicine is capable of aggravating resistance in the human body.
The theme for the 2023 World AMR awareness week is: “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together”.
