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.