By
Prosper K. Kuorsoh, GNA Special Correspondent, Lusaka, Zambia, courtesy Centre
for Science and Environment, India
Lusaka, Jan. 28, GNA
– African countries have been advised to prioritise and start implementing
activities contained in their National Action Plans (NAPs) for Antimicrobial
Resistance (AMR) to combat the threat.
Dr Olafur Valsson,
Programme Officer, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Sub-Regional
Representation for Southern Africa who gave the advice also observed some of
the Action Plans were over crowded with so many activities, which called for
prioritisation due to the lack of adequate resources for full scale
implementation.
Dr Valsson was
speaking during a panel discussion at the “Pan-Africa Workshop on Effective
Implementation of National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance” held in
Lusaka, Zambia.
He stressed on the
need to start implementation of the plans due to the great threat of AMR to
public health security, adding that time was therefore not on their side to
wait to get all the necessary resources before implementation.
The OIE
Representative also underscored the need for African countries to step up
political will, emphasizing that a real political will meant that there was
commitment to making funding available.
“AMR is a lot of
bacteria joined together fighting us and we can only fight and win, if we also
join forces”, said Dr Valsson.
AMR is developed
when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and some parasites are
able to withstand the effects of antimicrobials, rendering treatment of
infectious diseases in humans and animals ineffective.
Presently, more than
70,000 people are dying across the world each year due to infectious diseases
that had become resistant to antibiotics and yet it is estimated that by 2050,
the death count will increase to 10 million each year.
The workshop was
jointly organised by Zambia National Public Health Institute, Ministry of
Health, Zambia and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India, and
attended by participants from 11 countries including; Zambia and India.
The objective is to
discuss the threat of AMR to humans, animals and the environment; its spread,
and impact in Africa and to understand the implementation of the NAPs on AMR.
GNA