Nigeria is stepping up its efforts to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in light of global concerns raised by recent research. Researchers worldwide have been warning about the potential for a pandemic driven by antimicrobial resistance, particularly due to its spread through food animals. The World Health Organization has projected that by 2050, drug-resistant diseases could result in up to 10 million deaths annually. In Southeast Asia, for example, misuse of antimicrobials in livestock farming has contributed significantly to the emergence of superbugs, posing a serious threat to human health.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Nigerian Federal Government has inaugurated the National Task Force on AMR Stewardship. This initiative, launched by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reflects the government’s commitment to tackling this critical public health challenge head-on.
AMR has already become a severe global issue, responsible for an estimated 4.95 million deaths worldwide in 2019 alone, with 1.27 million of these deaths directly caused by resistant infections. In Nigeria, the impact of AMR is particularly acute, with the country recording 64,500 deaths directly linked to AMR and 263,400 deaths associated with resistant infections in the same year.
During the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Dr. Alausa highlighted the severity of AMR, describing it as a “silent but deadly threat” with wide-ranging implications for human and animal health, agriculture, and the environment. He emphasized the critical need for coordinated action, noting that the absence of a national Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) program in Nigeria presents a significant risk to public health. The newly established task force will bridge this gap by developing and implementing a national action plan aimed at curbing the spread of AMR.
Drawing parallels with the situation in Southeast Asia, researchers from RMIT University in Australia have stated the urgent need for countries to regulate antimicrobial use in both human and animal health sectors to prevent the emergence of drug-resistant superbugs.
In Nigeria, the new task force will focus on improving AMR surveillance and research, reviewing existing data, and aligning various agencies to create an effective nationwide surveillance system. The integration of a digital information platform is also planned to enhance communication, coordination, and dissemination of AMR-related information.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that this platform would support the establishment of AMS programs across both public and private health sectors, fostering leadership at the state and local levels in AMR surveillance and stewardship. He also highlighted the importance of raising public awareness, building capacity among healthcare providers, and developing strategies to engage and train personnel at patent pharmacies.
WHO Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Mulombo, acknowledged the contributions of key stakeholders in the fight against AMR. He highlighted the severe health, economic, and developmental impacts of AMR in Nigeria, including high mortality rates and economic losses, and reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s national AMR response.
National coordinator of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Taskforce, Dr. Omobosola Akinsete, further emphasized the global nature of the AMR crisis, noting its threat to healthcare systems worldwide, including Nigeria’s. She called for a unified effort involving healthcare professionals, researchers, government agencies, and the public to address AMR and ensure a sustainable healthcare system for future generations.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Daju Kachollom, described the inauguration of the task force as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s healthcare journey. She highlighted the significant threat AMR poses to the nation’s health security, economic development, and social well-being, stressing the urgent need for a coordinated response.
Kachollom explained that the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials have accelerated the emergence of resistant microorganisms, making infections harder to treat and increasing mortality rates. She also outlined the specific challenges Nigeria faces in combating AMR, including limited access to quality healthcare, inadequate surveillance and monitoring, poor infection prevention and control practices, and the misuse of antimicrobials in both human and animal health.
The inauguration of the National Task Force on AMR Stewardship marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to combat one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time. With a comprehensive strategy and coordinated efforts, Nigeria is poised to make substantial progress in the fight against antimicrobial resistance, aligning itself with global efforts to prevent the next pandemic driven by drug-resistant superbugs.
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