How antimicrobial agents in animals cause antibiotic resistance in humans — Director
The Sokoto State Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Adamu Abdulkadir, has cautioned livestock, poultry and fish business owners against misuse of antimicrobial agents, saying it causes antibiotics resistance in humans.
Abdulkadir made the call at an event to mark the 2023 World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness week organised by the Sokoto State Government, in collaboration with USAID Breakthrough Action and others on Thursday in Sokoto.
He said indiscriminate use of antibiotics on animals is detrimental to humans as it causes antibiotics resistance.
He added that the World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week is to sensitise Nigerians on the dangers of misuse of antibiotics in the country.
According to him, when animals are administered antimicrobial drugs, there is a withdrawal period in which humans are not meant to consume such animals till the withdrawal period elapsed.
He added that most livestock farmers in parts of the world failed to adhere to the directives.
The veterinary director said the Sokoto State Government had planned mass awareness campaigns, fumigation and vaccination, along with stakeholders’ engagements to safeguard peoples lives.
In her lecture, Dr Zainab Abdulkarim, an Official from the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasised the need for care on the use of antibiotics.
Abdulkarim said stakeholders need to live up to expectations on the control mechanisms comprising awareness creation, surveillance, infection prevention and control, stewardship for responsible usage and research to reduce overdependence of antimicrobials.
She said focus was geared toward raising peoples’ knowledge on the dangers of indiscriminate use of antimicrobials, which lead to resistance.
The official attributed the rise in antimicrobial drug resistance to its use without prescription from professionals.
She added that the essence of the awareness was to reduce the emergence and spread of drug resistant infections and to promote best practices among stakeholders.
She commended the World Health Organisation (WHO), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), USAID Breakthrough Action, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as Federal Ministry of Environment on the collaboration with Federal Ministry of Agriculture on the efforts.
In their separate remarks, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu and Hajiya Munirat Garba, the Chairman of Agro-allied Chemical Sellers and Chairperson of State Poultry Farmers Association, lauded government and partners’ efforts in awareness.
They assured maximum cooperation and engagement of their members in sanitising the business for improved public healthcare and productive engagements.
Supreme News reports that the event witnessed questions and answers and other interactive talks.
