More people are dying from non-response to treatment due to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and many more are expected to lose their lives if no action is taken now.
Current statistics reveal that, about 700,000 people globally lose their lives every year due to occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Adding to that, O’Neil’s paper indicates 10 million people more are likely to lose their lives annually by 2050 if no effective education and sensitization programme on the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is embarked on globally, which Ghana is not an exception.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, and some parasites) to stop an antimicrobial (such as antibiotics, antivirals and anti-malarials) from working against it.
These revelations were made by the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Project Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN, Dr. Kofi Afakye, at a two-day media training held in Accra, Ghana.
The two-day media training was to equip, educate, as well as share information with media practitioners for them to be able to educate and inform the general public on AMR through their reportage, articles, features and documentaries ahead of this year’s World Antibiotic Awareness Week celebration and beyond.
According to Dr. Kofi Afakye, the aim of the celebration is to increase global awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Urging the media to use their various media platforms to engage stakeholders in the country in their quest to combat antimicrobial resistance, he as well appealed to them to intensify education in the communities about the AMR.
Meanwhile, in his presentation at the two-day media training, the National Project Coordinator for AMR at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), urged the media practitioners to advocate for the use of One Health Approach in order to successfully prevent AMR, and to manage public health emergencies and threats.
Also used the occasion to call for more partnership of global communities to use the One Health Approach.
One Health is an approach in health systems designed to render services in a way that accounts for the link between human, animal and environmental health.
Furthermore, Dr. Afakye indicated that, the One Health concept is a strategy that promotes inter-disciplinary collaboration among animal, human and environmental health experts with the goal of promoting public health and assuring health security.
He emphasized that, this will enhance the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country.
Participants were from various print, television, radio and online media houses in the country.
Story By: Ishmael Barfi senghana@gmail.com/barfi@thenewindependentonline.com
