The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stern warning against the misuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals, citing the growing concern of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
At the close of the 2024 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, held in collaboration with the Royal Danish Embassy and Denmark’s Ministry of Environment and Food, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, highlighted the dire consequences of improper antibiotic use.
“Misuse of antibiotics, such as not completing prescribed dosages or consuming animals treated with antibiotics before the drugs clear from their systems, contributes to antimicrobial resistance,” Adeyeye explained.
“This resistance renders antibiotics ineffective, posing severe risks to human health. Antimicrobial Awareness Week serves as a crucial reminder that antibiotics should be used responsibly and not indiscriminately.”
Prof. Adeyeye spoke on the theme of the week, “Educate, Advocate, Act Now,” and noted that NAFDAC had intensified efforts to educate key stakeholders, including pharmacists and veterinarians, about the responsible use of antibiotics.
She further stressed the importance of keeping receipts for antibiotic purchases to facilitate traceability in cases of resistance. “We also advise veterinarians and butchers to avoid slaughtering animals immediately after administering antibiotics, allowing sufficient time for the drugs to leave the animal’s system,” she added.
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Adeyeye also warned about the growing difficulty in treating infections that were once easily managed with antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals.
“Resistance is reversing decades of medical progress, endangering routine surgeries, medical procedures, and the treatment of common infections,” she said.
“The most pressing concern is resistance found at birth in newborns. This growing AMR crisis poses an unquantifiable threat to human, animal, and environmental health.”
She attributed the spread of antimicrobial resistance to various factors, including the misuse of antimicrobial agents, the presence of substandard and falsified products, and irresponsible drug handling.
Adeyeye also mentioned that NAFDAC had implemented measures to identify and mitigate these causes through its regulatory activities.
The Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens Ole Bach Hansen, echoed the global nature of the antimicrobial resistance challenge, emphasizing the need for cross-border collaboration.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue that requires collaboration across borders. Bacteria know no boundaries,” he said.
“NAFDAC has been highly effective in addressing this issue, and our partnership has allowed us to share expertise and experiences, enabling us to tackle similar challenges collaboratively.”
