ANTIBIOTICS- HANDLE WITH CARE

Earlier yesterday the  WHO launched its first ever World Antibiotic Awareness Week. Scheduled for November 16th to 22nd this world awareness week aims to tackle the problem posed by improper use of antibiotics which leads to antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is a phenomenon whereby bacteria grow resistant to antibiotics. Certain antibiotics that have been effectively used in the past to fight bacteria will no longer work as the bacteria will have grown resistant to it. Although this process occurs naturally, as evident in current research it has been sped up by the improper use of antibiotics in the form of long term use, self-prescription and abuse.

Over the years there has been an increase in the emergence of resistant bacteria across the globe, this has posed serious threat to human lives, antibiotics and the efforts employed to make them has been rendered nearly useless. Since the discovery of penicillin in the year 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming modern medicine has witnessed the birth of several antibiotics. Currently if not in all antibiotics, resistance has been developed in most.

World antibiotic awareness week aims at stressing the need to use antibiotics properly by creating awareness to the world to call on individuals, governments, agricultural and health professionals to take action against this problem.  

According to the  press release  on the WHO's antibiotic survey; myriads of people are unaware of this threat and they do not know how to prevent it. In the multi-country survey carried out across 12 countries, two thirds of about 10,000 people (64%) said they know antibiotic resistance could affect them and their families but they don’t know how it will affect them neither do they know how to address the issue. The same percentage of people also believed antibiotics can be used to treat cold and flu, which is not true, in the sense that antibiotics have no impact on viruses. About one third of them said it is right to stop taking antibiotics once one feels better instead of completing the doses of the medication. This result has led to the launch of a new campaign tagged; Antibiotics: Handle with care.

The survey that was conducted in 12 countries span across 2 countries in all WHO regions featured Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa in this region. The survey revealed that just about 22% of the correspondents in Egypt have heard of antibiotic resistance. This is the lowest of all countries included in the survey. Nigeria had the second lowest score. This indicates the high level of unawareness in Nigeria and hence Africa. I think this should be a wake up call for the government, private sector and the civil society at large to help create awareness on this subject matter.

It should be noted that antibiotics should not be shared, if your family member is prescribed a medication and is using it; you should not share it with them. You need to see the doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Antibiotics should not be passed around, self medication is not right and should not be encouraged as its adverse effects cannot be over emphasized.

it is not advisable to stop taking your medications as soon as you feel better, the bacteria in question then has the chance to develop  some resistance and become stronger. Doses of prescribed medications should be duly completed. The government should forbid self medication and ban the illegal sales/purchase of drugs from roadside stalls and hawkers. Antibiotics should be properly monitored. It is evident from the survey carried out in Nigeria, that a percentage of the correspondents said they purchased antibiotics from stalls and hawkers.

Also, African nations should pass a bill of the preservation of antibiotics for medical treatment. There should be an amendment of federal drug, food and cosmetic Act for the preservation of antibiotics used in treating humans and animals.

The WHO through the World Antibiotic awareness week calls on member states and health professionals to join this global campaign, to raise awareness on this issue. Antibiotics should be handled with care to avoid tilting the world back in time, and in to the dark ages when bacterial infections claimed numerous lives before the advent of antibiotics.

Now is the time to stop antibiotic resistance.

Please join the campaign!
Written By: Jimoh Waliu