Invest In Responsible Antimicrobial Use –PSGH Urges Policymakers
Invest In Responsible Antimicrobial Use --PSGH Urges Policymakers
Invest In Responsible Antimicrobial Use –PSGH Urges Policymakers.
As the world prepares for the United Nations high-level meeting (UNGA) on AMR in 2024, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has called on the government, policymakers in the AMR space, health professionals, pharmacy regulatory agencies to invest in initiatives that will promote responsible antimicrobial use surveillance and research in the fight against antimicrobial resistance in the country.
According to PSGH, there is an urgent need for Ghana to have one voice with all stakeholders to ensure a real call to action before the 2030 SDG timelines.
According to the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) report, in 2019 alone an estimated 1.27 million lives were claimed directly by drug-resistant infections. The toll increased to 4.95 million deaths from complications of resistant bacterial infections.
AMR is a major killer and one of the leading global health challenges of the 21st century. Africa has the world’s highest mortality rate from AMR-related infections, resulting in over 27 deaths per 100,000.
Speaking at a program ‘The Urgent Call to Action on the Management and Use of Antimicrobials’ in Accra to commemorate the 2023 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, the president of the PSGH, Pharm. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh said collective action is crucial to stem the tide to contain the development and spread of AMR in the country.
He stressed that if the use of antimicrobials in health systems is not efficiently controlled and drug-resistant microbes continue to spread, AMR-related illnesses could account for 10 million deaths worldwide by the year 2050.
He noted that PSGH are concerned about the development of resistance to certain medicines which would pose health challenges to patients.
“Until you are tested and confirmed that you have malaria, you do not have to take anti-malaria treatment just because you have a headache or just because you have a bitter taste in your mouth. These are the things we are used to doing. Until you test positive for malaria you do not take anti-malaria drugs. There are parts of antimicrobials we are talking about”.
Pharm. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh urged the media to use the medium to foster awareness, drive social change, and advocate for responsible antimicrobial use.
About World AMR Awareness Week
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders, and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR.
The WAAW is celebrated on 18-24 November every year and this year the celebration is on the theme “Preventing antimicrobial resistance together”.
