Ghana Antimicrobial Resistance Policy launched
Bilkis Nurudeen
President Nana Addo Dankwa AkufoAddo last week, launched Ghana's antimicrobial
resistance policy and national action plan in Accra.
The president in his speech noted that,antibiotics have been
used to prevent and treat microbial infections over the last decade.
He however added, antimicrobial resistance is threatening to
derail the significant achievements made in the field of infectious disease
therapy, animal and crop health, the environment and our fisheries and aqua
culture.
As co-chair of United Nations Advocates Group of Eminent
persons on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the president stressed that
the phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance is a grave threat to the realization
of SDG3, which demands that countries ensure healthy lives and the promotion of
wellbeing for all at all ages, which
according to the president, warrants that all efforts are geared towards
overcoming the resistance.
What this means the president explained is that simple
treatment for infections, such as pneumonia or gonorrhea, can no longer be
possible because of antimicrobial resistance, adding that the world is already
grappling with Drug Resistance Tuberculosis, what is threatening to undo decades
of progress made in the treatment and control of tuberculosis.
According to Nana Akuffo Addo, "Our food supply chain
is also not being spared, because animal husbandry, fisheries and aquaculture
sectors and the environment is also at risk, because of the effluents from
industry that keep polluting the soil and water bodies.
“It is thus, important that we recognize this, and the
current steps we taken have to deal with resistance phenomenon, steps which we
are confident are in the right direction."
It is for this reason, and in conformity with the stance
taken by the World Health Assembly which urges all members states to develop
and put in place national action plans on antimicrobial resistance, which must
be aligned with the objective of the global action plan launched in May 2015
that Ghana has prepared and launched a national action plan together with a
national policy document.
The Launch of the policy and national action plan and
national policy document, according to President Akuffo Addo is a clear indication
that the Ghana is ready to implement their contents.
"It is our hope to be committed to implement the
intervention outlined in these documents to guarantee the efficacy, as well as
ensure the responsible use of antimicrobial and thereby preserve them for
future generations we are mobilizing domestic resources to deal with this
menace, a mobilisation which is an integral part of our vision of creating a
Ghana Beyond Aid he added.”
The President was fortified in his belief that Ghana is well
positioned to join the global effort to fight antimicrobial resistance.
He also urged all Ghanaians to join in the implementation of
antimicrobial resistance plan stressing that together we can effect change in
handling and use of antimicrobial.
He also challenged industry to come out with new innovations
and formation of antimicrobial, vaccines and diagnostics as the country seeks
to combat the resistances phenomenon.
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