By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has launched the Second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR 2.0) towards combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when infections become harder to treat as microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve, becoming resistant to drugs and developing the ability to survive treatments that once killed or inhibited their growth.
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes AMR as one of the top global public health threats facing humanity, with 4.95 million human deaths estimated to be associated with bacterial AMR worldwide in 2019.
During the launch and ministerial briefing of the AMR action plan in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, disclosed that a situation analysis on AMR found that it is not only among the country’s population but also among animals, crop-sourced food, and the environment.
According to a statement, the milestone aligns with the political declaration endorsed in the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting (UNGA-HLM), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health sector renewal initiative, and Nigeria’s commitment to global health security.
The Minister described AMR as a threat that is growing at an alarming rate and endangering decades of medical progress. “AMR threatens the foundation of modern medicine, rendering routine procedures, surgeries, and treatments less effective, and at times, ineffective. AMR, unaddressed, can surpass cancer as a leading cause of mortality globally.
“The economic consequences are equally dire, with projections estimating global losses of over $100 trillion.
The Second National Action Plan on AMR outlines strategies for improving antimicrobial stewardship, enhancing surveillance and detection capabilities, promoting research and development and strengthening healthcare systems,” he said.
AMR is driven by the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial drugs in humans, animals, and agriculture.
The environment plays a pivotal role in the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Wastewater from pharmaceutical companies, healthcare facilities, and agricultural activities, which often contain high levels of antibiotics, contributes to the spread of AMR in the environment.
With this strategic plan, Nigeria aims to reduce these environmental factors and strengthen surveillance systems to detect and monitor AMR in environmental samples.
In his remarks, WHO Country Representative Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo reiterated that the world has reached a critical milestone in understanding the environment’s impact on antimicrobial resistance.
WHO is a key technical partner in developing this NAP-2.0 , providing guidance on global best practices and supporting the federal government in aligning its strategies with the Global Action Plan on AMR launched in 2017.
Commending Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC) and partners and stakeholders on developing Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Dr Mulombo said, “AMR threatens our time, economy and development. It’s a moral imperative and a career-defining challenge. If left unchecked, antimicrobial resistance may claim millions of lives and wreak economic havoc.
“It is predicted to cause over 39 million deaths in the next 25 years, surpassing current mortality rates. This alarming projection underscores the urgency for collective action.”
“AMR is multifaceted, requiring an integrated multi-dimensional approach. Critical factors include irrational antibiotic use, lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene, inadequate healthcare infrastructure and the limited funding for research and development.”