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

Ban ki-moon on financing gender equality : The Addis Ababa conference [July 2015]

In the words of Ban Ki-moon "It is clear that we have not invested sufficiently in gender equality."
"We know that persisting gaps in gender equality and women's empowerment in the world have been a barrier to the full achievement of each of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).”

He further touched on the fact that  not up to 10 per cent of official development assistance (ODA) is focused on women, and a good number of gender equality policies and initiatives fail to be funded by national governments and local funds.


He noted the need for the world to address and change this so as to achieve sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth and development.
He further more said that gender-responsive budgeting and planning processes, can help ensure that public revenue is raised, prioritized and spent in ways that benefit women and girls.

Lowering spendings on security and the Military and the redirection of such funds into the financing of social programs as exemplified in Cambodia, Costa Rica and Sri Lanka may help further the cause.

Taxes from the private sector and the engagement of women in gainful employment by the business arm of the same sector can also help.

One of the key objectives of the conference was to establish the need for investing in policy making and legislation to ensure women's equal rights and their participation and leadership in the economy.

This is to ensure that the right financial allocation strategies are implemented to allow for women, men, girls and boys benefit equally from the new global sustainable development framework. This is their right and it must be our legacy.”

World bank president Jim Yong Kim also added that while aid is critical, it is now also time to catalyze and leverage new streams of financing from public, private, domestic and international sources. 

“Collecting taxes fairly, efficiently and transparently is critically important in ways that don't penalize women when they bring home a second income, for example, or spend money on food and other goods that sustain their families."

“When women earn more, public finances will improve and commercial profits increase because of increased demand and productivity,” he continued. “When we promote true equality, including equal pay for equal work, we all stand to benefit because better educated mothers produce healthier children and women who earn more invest in the next generation.

“Creating a level playing field is always good for business, and it's especially good for women,” he stated, adding that this kind of inclusive growth is vital to ending extreme poverty by year 2030.

Overall there was a general consensus to “ensure gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment,” hence reaffirming that this goal and the full realization of human rights are essential to achieving sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth and sustainable development.

To transform the commitments agreed upon to action points the UN Women in collaboration with some member states have come up with an agenda : The Addis Ababa Action Plan on
Transformative Financing for Gender Equality and women's empowerment.


As the MDGs expire this year, it is a good time to reflect on the shortcomings that negatively impacted their full realization. 

One key lesson is that, investing more in women to promote true gender equality and women's empowerment will go a long way in the attainment of sustainable development.

Female Education in Conflict Zones

Some 28.5 million children in conflict zones globally are prevented from having access to Education. (UN 2013 figures)

More than half of this population are girls.

The UN in 2012 launched an initiative; "Global Education First."
It was targeted at solving the under  prioritization of education in times of conflict. Which is often seen in the low funds allocated to education in conflict zones.

A mere 1.4 percent of humanitarian aid is spent on Education.

Anthony Lake; UNICEF Executive Director has said that :
"Education should never be a casualty of crisis…or a cost of conflict,"  "Education cannot wait for battles to end…or disasters to be averted… or funding to be available. Education cannot wait…because children cannot wait."


In times of conflict survival, security, food and some form of shelter is usually prioritized above all else.
Education becomes of little priority.

During wars it takes sheer will power and a strong determination by the parents and the government to keep the schools from closing down.
Try as they may, this often is not the case, especially when the lives of the pupils/students become threatened by going to or being in school.
Schools are meant to be safe havens, deliberately avoided by attacks and bombs.

However, this is not always so. In recent times thousands of schools have been attacked and in some cases are occupied by military personnel. Children have been caught in the middle of this chaos and massacred enmasse.

What chances does a girl in these regions have to access Education?

Very slim chances right?

The female child in some cultures is to be seen and not heard and right from birth she is being groomed for marriage and her education usually is of little concern.
So in times of conflict, her education is first and foremost not priority and easily stops.

In some cultures and religions a girl can only attend school if the teachers are women, or it is a girl's only school. Hence in the chaos that follows conflicts and wars, the system is disorganized and very few schools are open. The men are usually more in charge of the few open schools at this time, hence many girls are prevented from attending school.

Way Forward:

The protection of students and pupils in schools as well as their teachers and school workers should be prioritized.
The use of schools for military purposes should be stopped and attacks against schools should be duly treated as a violation of human rights.

Education should be incorporated into the evacuation plans during conflicts and should be duly funded.
It should not just be an after thought.

Education is the solution to many of the challenges being faced in local communities today.
When it is truncated during a war, the loss is immense and immeasurable as it has long lasting economic, social and political impacts.

Female education is a human right and the girl child should not be denied of it.
Putting structures in place to continue education in conflict zones will make more parents release their girls to go to school.
Let's bridge the gender based educational gap today by helping more girls in conflict zones attend school.