The Federal Government has called for a stronger collaboration among stakeholders under the ‘One Health Approach’ in the implementation of the new National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) to ensure improved public health, food security and sustainable development in the country.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, who made the call in Abuja, explained that the new National Action Plan on AMR has six strategic objectives which include, strengthening leadership and surveillance systems, improving public awareness, implementing infection prevention and control programmes, access to quality microbials’; and increasing the knowledge capacity of relevant stakeholders.
Kyari stated that the implementation plan was intended to address the difficulties of antimicrobial resistance in the human, animal, and environmental sectors.
The minister, represented by the ministry’s director of planning and policy coordination, Mr Ibrahim Tanimu, stated, “In accordance with the political declaration at the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly, the Ministry recognizes that antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent global health threats and development challenges.”
He stated: “Antimicrobial resistance is predicted to cause about 11% decline in livestock production in low-income countries by 2050.”
In a statement by the principal information officer in the ministry, Obe M. Mabel, Kyari added that to curb antimicrobial resistance, the ministry has established a network of laboratories to support AMR surveillance, developed national guidelines for the use of antimicrobial drugs in animals to guide animal health practitioners.
He further stated that in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisations (FAO), the ministry had developed Bio Securities Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for poultry and aquaculture sectors.
He therefore pledged the ministry’s full commitment to the implementation of the activities of the new National Action Plan.
In his remarks the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, emphasised the Federal Government’s dedication to protecting citizens’ health and well-being.
He revealed that, “AMR occurs when microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and develop the ability to survive treatments that once killed them or inhibited their growth.”
Prof. Pate also explained that the Second National Action Plan on AMR aims to mitigate the impact of antimicrobial resistance, which claimed 4.7 million lives globally in 2020.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the World Health Organization’s Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, pointed out that the world has reached a critical milestone in understanding the environment’s impact on antimicrobial resistance.
He further stated that this achievement displays leadership, ownership, and a will to address the critical issue.
In his presentation, Kabir Junaid, Co-Chair of the AMR Technical Working Group, emphasized that the document’s acceptance was critical because it would drive the country’s efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
The event’s focus was the introduction and launch of the new National Action Plan on AMR and the National Genomics Surveillance Strategy.
Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, the former Minister of Health, was in attendance, as were other key stakeholders and development partners in the sector.
