The World Health Organization (WHO) has called responsible use of antibiotics, as abuse may lead to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which is projected to kill 10 million people globally by 2050.
It noted that the time required to develop a new antibiotic could take up to 10-15 years, and costs more than $US1 billion.
Lafiya360 reports that the global health body further warned that the abuse of antibiotics makes them ineffective for treatment overtime.
Speaking during the 7th Annual Conference of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ), which was held in Akwanga, Nasarawa state, with the theme: “Health Security: Nigeria’s Efforts to Achieve Universal Health Coverage,” the WHO Technical Officer of AMR, Dr Laxmikant Chavan, stated that AMR remains a major threat to human health globally, adding that roughly five million deaths were associated with bacterial resistance.
He also states that AMR has become a significant threat to achieving the 2030 target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said, “The cost of AMR to national economies and development is significant. Under a worst-case scenario, AMR could cause a reduction in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) equal to that of the 2008 financial crisis.”
He also decried the increasing use of antimicrobial medicines, particularly in Nigeria and the African sub-region. He noted that global antibiotic consumption increased by 30 per cent between the year 2000 and 2010, from 50 billion standard units to 70 billion standard units.
The Technical Officer, Vaccine Preventable Diseases Cluster (VPD) of the WHO, Dr Olayiwola Olanike, harped on the importance of sustainable health practices in Nigeria.
She also called for a comprehensive approach to health determinants, ranging from environmental sustainability to community engagement.
Olanike, while highlighting the significance of multi-sectoral policies, disaster planning and inclusive programmes to achieve universal health coverage, also explained the relationship between health and the environment, calling for a shift towards low-carbon solutions and renewable energy.