The
Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social, Dr. Tunji Alausa has urged
members of Antimicrobial Stewardship Taskforce(AMS) to carry out their
assignment with urgency and unwavering commitment to stem the tide of
Antimicrobial resistance and safeguard the lives of Nigerians which is the
primary mandate, given to the Ministry under the watch of the Hon. Minister and
the Coordinating Minister, Professor, Muhammad Ali Pate by the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
The Minister,
who gave the charge at the Innaguration of the National Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS)TaskForce held in Abuja on
the 27th August,2024 also emphasized that the challenge requires Multisectoral
coordination and dedicated sector-specific approaches.
Dr. Alausa
explained that even though there is a one point approach to the crude which
comprises Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as well as Federal
Ministry of Environment, the innagurated TaskForce is purely to coordinate the
usage of the Antimicrobial in human beings , with a view to improving the
population health outcomes and the entire healthcare system in the country.
The Minister who stated that the Taskforce brings together experts from healthcare and academia to implement the national action plan to curb the spread of Antimicrobial Resilience in Nigeria, should establish relevant sub-committees required to accomplish the targeted goals, reiterating that innaguration of the Taskforce marks the beginning of coordinated and strategic response by government to tackle Antimicrobial resistance problem for the first time.
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Daju Kachollom S. mni, presenting welcome address
at the Innaguration of National Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) TaskForce
The
Honourable Minister of State lamented that currently there was no Antimicrobial
Stewardship program to monitor the pattern of Antimicrobials use and
Antimicrobials sensitivity across the country, this he said portends great
danger that could lead to significant antimicrobial resistance issues that can
contribute to high morbidity, mortality and stretch ovedependend hospital
system further.
He mentioned
that this informed the need to set up the Taskforce to have a national
oversight to monitor and help provide guidance across the country on
antimicrobial use that would be based sensitivity results for prudent
antimicrobial usage.
Narrating the figure of lives lost as at 2019 which shows that 64,000 deaths occured, were attributed to AMR and 263,400 related to AMR, making AMR deaths higher than deaths from enteric infections, respiratory infections and Tuberculosis, maternal and neonatal disorders and malaria as well as cardiovascular diseases , reaffirming that no wonder, WHO declared AMR a global threat in 2022.
Presenting
the Terms of Reference of the Taskforce, Dr. Alausa said their activities were
developed around three themetic areas which includes: Coordinate AMR
surveillance and research activities in Nigeria - review existing data on AMR
in Nigeria, Align agencies supporting AMR surveillance and research in Nigeria
and establish effective country wide surveillance.
Another
thematic area is to create AMR data platform - establish an integrated digital
information platform network to facilitate communication, coordination sharing
and dissemination of information on AMR in Nigeria, support the establishment
of facility basedAMS Programme in the public and private health sector and to
establish State and Local Government Areas leadetship for AMR surveillance and
AMS stewardship.
The third
themetic area is to promote Enlightenment and education on AMR- promote
awareness of AMR among the public and health providers, build capacity by
training pediatric and adult infections diseases physicians and pharmacists and
to develop strategies for engaging and training personnel at patent pharmacies.
In her
response, the Taskforce National Coordinator, Dr. Omobosola Akinsete, assured
their readiness and commitments to deliver the tasks given to them, calling for
the need to work together with healthcare professionals, researchers,
Government, non governmental agencies to create a culture that extends beyond
the walls of hospitals and clinics and reach into every community to leave
behind a Healthier future for our descendants and champion policies that
empower patients and providers alike as well as culture that reflects the best
of Nigerian values.
She promised
to follow all the terms of reference of the Taskforce "We want to try to
ensure implementation of AMS in all healthcare centers that are well equipped
labs to help with diagnosis. We will assist with providing education to all
providers in the chain of healthcare and making guidelines and antibiograms for
different parts of the country. We will use the information gained from the
survey and other work to build a framework that helps to prioritize the
responsible use of antimicrobial and endures the health and safety of our
population ".
While reassuring the Honourable Minister and Nigerians as a whole on their commitments, the National Coordinator, said that the Taskforce would implement strategies that are not just about policies and procedures but about all manners of people.
Group photograph: Honourable Minister of State,Dr. Tunji Alausa (Center) with Members of National Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMR) Taskforce, flanked by
(Left) the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Daju Kachollom S. mni and by (Right), the National Coordinator of AMS, Dr. Omobosola Akinsete.
"Nigeria is blessed with remarkable talented medical professionals, equipped with excellent diagnosistic skills and wealth of knowledge, even without sophisticated equipment to help them, but they often find themselves working under challenging conditions and sometimes resorting to the use of multiple antibiotics in a guessing game to treat suspected or known infections hoping that one will provide relief to the patient" she lamented.
Earlier in
her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S.mni, expressed delight that the Ministry has
innagurated the Taskforce to address the must pressing global challenge of our
present time, adding that AMR poses a significant threat to the Nigeria Health
Security, economic development and social well being.
" In
Nigeria,we face a new challenge of having antimicrobial resistance which
includes limited access to quality healthcare, inadequate surveillance and
monitoring , poor infections prevention and control practices as well as misuse
of microbial in human and and animals health".
She
reiterated that with the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal
Investment Initiative, the country will make a difference , urging the
Taskforce to bring expertise and commit themselves to this important National
assignment in line with the terms of reference with a view to improving
population health outcomes and build a resilient health system.
She thanked
the Honourable Minister of State for his efforts to combat AMR and all other
development partners for their support.
The ceremony
was attended by important personalities that presented goodwill messages on
behalf of their respective organizations, including the Country Representative
World Health Organization (WHO),Dr. Walter Kazaki Mulumbo, Mr Tajudeen , Global
Fund, CCM, representative of IHVN, Jibrin Kama, Associate Director, Access
Programme,CHAI Nigeria, Dr. Babagana Adam, represented the Permanent Secretary
FCT environment and health services , Director General, NACA Dr. Tomitope among
others .
Ado Bako
AD(Information
and Public Relations)
28/8/2024.
