Health experts have expressed concern over the inappropriate use of antibiotics in human and animal health, which is exacerbating the high burden of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the country.
  
AMR is one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
   

This occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective, while infections are difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.
  
The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in $1 trillion in additional healthcare costs by 2050 and $1 trillion to $3.4 trillion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) losses per year by 2030.
  
Nigeria in 2019 recorded 64,500 deaths attributable to AMR and 263,400 deaths. Nigeria has the 185th highest age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 populations associated with AMR across 204 countries.
  
As part of efforts to address the burden of AMR in the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in collaboration with the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association, and Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) last year, launched the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) programme in Nigerian hospitals.
  
The project, funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care through the Fleming Fund, aims to strengthen Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) in healthcare facilities and communities.
  
This made NCDC and its key partners convene an in-country yearly review meeting in Abuja this week that reflected on the programme achievements, challenges and strategises for future initiatives.
  
Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the National Working Group, Prof Oladipo Aboderin, said that antimicrobial resistance is a global issue, stressing that the Lancet paper, which investigated the data on antimicrobial resistance in 204 countries showed that the top commonest causes of death globally is the kidney heart disease, stroke and antimicrobial resistance.
  
He noted that globally, almost 4.95 million deaths yearly are associated with AMR, while 1.7 million deaths are directly attributable to mortality. In Nigeria in 2019, there were 64,500 deaths attributable to AMR and 263,400 deaths associated with AMR.
  
Abiderin observed that Nigeria in 2017 developed a national action plan to address AMR, said there is a need to increase awareness, as many people including healthcare providers think that as long as one uses antibiotics, the person is treated.
 
 He said: “If you can prevent infection, water and sanitation vaccination, 750,000 of these infections can be prevented yearly. If we deploy all we know like we did during the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be able to prevent the high burden of untreatable infections.”
  
Also speaking, NCDC’s National Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme Manager, Dr Ridwan Yahaya, traced the problem to poverty. He said a lot of people buy medications without going to the hospital for proper investigation.
  
He stressed the need to adopt a multi-sectoral approach to AMR in the country, adding that Nigeria has started piloting an integrated surveillance system for periodical integrated surveys.
   
Yahaya noted that Nigeria has implemented the first national action plan, while the second plan is awaiting the approval of the Minister of Health.
   
He said: “We need to innovate, bring technology and alternatives to antibiotics, as well as move away from misusing the anti-microbial that we use, develop local innovations to ensure that diagnosis is cheaper and accessible.”