Imagine you had an operation or you are ill and you start to resist the ant-biotics, your body no longer finds the pills useful, that is what is called Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and it is a silent pandemic that if left unchecked can leave a trail of destruction on human beings, animals and the environment.
AMR occurs when germs that causes disease or infection in humans and animals, change and become resistant to antimicrobial medicines for treatment. It is mostly caused by overuse and misuse of medicines in humans and animals.
As the world was commemorating the 2021 Antimicrobial Awareness Week, in Harare, there was the launch of the Fleming Fund and Multi- partner Trust Fund Grants and official opening of the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory AMR Unit at Sally Mugabe Hospital on Wednesday and the policy dialogue at a Capital hotel on Friday.
The belated celebrations are for the annual commemorations held between 18-24 November. In his remarks read by Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro Vice PRESIDENT, Minister of Health and Child Care Dr CDGN Chiwenga said, “This year’s theme, Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance”, is a call for commitment to all of us starting from individual level to collective level, to make informed health decisions on the use of antimicrobials. Every person in Zimbabwe should feel motivated to take action against antimicrobial resistance individually and collectively”.
He added that as a country and Government they are committed to commemorate this week annually in an effect to keep AMR prevention and control high on the national agenda.” Owing to the support availed under the Fleming Fund Grant which amounts to the tune of 4 million pounds, Zimbabwe has and continues to scale up the capacity of laboratories, mandated to analyse pathogens. This will ensure enhanced antimicrobial sensitivity testing so that resistant pathogens can be identified and appropriate action can be taken. Thu far, the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) and the Ventral Veterinary Laboratory have been renovated”, he said.
World Health Organisation (WHO) representative Dr Alex Gasasira said support for the one health approach to combat antimicrobial resistance is one of the priorities of the Zimbabwe United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022- 2026. This Framework is anchored on Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1, 2021-2025.
“WHO looks forward to working with all stakeholders under the leadership of Government to Zimbabwe to accelerate action to combat the AMR and address other health security priorities including response to Covid-19”, he said.” We also call upon Government and partne4rs to optimise coordinated multisectoral action to accelerate progress in other priority areas of the National Health Strategy particularly Primary Health Care and Universal Health Coverage”, he added.
British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Melanie Robinson had her speech read by Geraldine 0’ Callaghan an official at the embassy on her behalf.
“It was the British scientist Alexander, who discovered penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic. That discovery, and subsequent development of other antimicrobials, has saved millions of lives. Modern treatment depends on these medicines for a host of medical interventions and procedures”, she said.
“But antibiotic consumption is increasing at an alarming rate. AMR is now one of the greatest public health threats facing the world. Global evidence shows that based on current trends, global deaths related to antimicrobial resistance will rise from 700 000 to 10 million a year by 2050.
The policy dialogue on AMR held on Friday also emphasised on the need to combat AMR.
Director of Pan- African Treatment Access movement a lawyer Dr Tapiwa Kujinga said it was a milestone for AMR national committee to have the launch on Wednesday as it shows the Government has accepted the need to tackle AMR.
He concurred with the remarks by the Sweden Ambassador at the Wednesday launch, Ambassador Asa Pehrson who said Sweden has banned antibiotics in animals and control the sale of antibiotics over the counter in pharmacies.
“We are in danger of being in a world where antibiotics no longer works”, he said.” In Sweden you don’t get antibiotics everywhere so that AMR is low. He said AMR core group in Zimbabwe was formed in 2015 and commemorations are being held annually”, he added.
“The challenge with AMR that is does not have free symptoms and it does not kill directly but adds to the death of a person”, he revealed.
“12 laboratories are going to be capacitated nationwide and people should not take drugs for the sake of taking without proper knowledge”, he said.
WHO Health Systems Advisor Dr Stanley Midzi giving remarks at the policy dialogue said WHO role is to provide technical support.
EMA Laboratory Manager Sylvia Yomisi said the environment should be clean and prevent diseases.” As environmental agency, we control what is getting in the environment. We need to protect entry of resistance in our water bodies”, she said.
Director in the Division of Veterinary Technical Services, Dept. of Veterinary Services for the Ministry of Land, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Pious Makaya said antibiotics (Tetracycline) are used in chickens before the chicks are sick and they must be used correctly so that they do not affect human being on consumption. Prevention of antibiotics in animals is essential like what happened in Sweden where antibiotics in animals is banned”, he said.
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