End the indiscriminate use of antibiotics – Prof Ohene Boabeng

By Samira Larbie, GNA

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA – Professor Kwame Ohene
Boabeng, a Clinical Pharmacologist and Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science (KNUST), has called for an end to the
indiscriminate use of antibiotics to reverse the trend of antimicrobial
resistance.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) are
microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi which evolve over time and
are no longer affected by drugs that should otherwise kill them.

Professor Boabeng made the call at a two-day
training workshop for some journalists from various media houses in Accra.

The aim of the training was to enable
journalists understand and effectively educate the public on the dangers of
misusing antibiotics.

He said statistics from the World Health
Organisation, (WHO) indicates that an average of 1,918 people die from AMR on
daily.

The situation according to the WHO if not
dealt with would escalate to one death per person every minute by 2050.

Prof Boabeng said many tertiary health
facilities across the country are recording high incidents of Extended Spectrum
Beta Lactonades (ESBL), an enzyme made by some bacteria.

He said ESBL bacteria infections usually
occur in the urinary tract, lungs, skin, blood, abdomen, adding that; “one
can breathe in the bacteria when a person with an ESBL infection coughs or
sneezes nearby.

He said “these classes of bacteria have
become resistant to most antibiotics available,” hence the need for more
efforts to be made to address the situation.

He said there is the need to create awareness
on AMR to enlighten the public on essential medicines such as antibiotics and
how to use them judiciously.

Professor Boabeng called on regulators to
intensify efforts in regulating the use of antibiotics in the country.

GNA