Editor
By Fatima Saka
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Affairs, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has urged members of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Taskforce (AMS) to fulfill their duties with urgency and unwavering dedication in order to combat Antimicrobial resistance and safeguard the lives of Nigerians.
Alausa emphasized that the primary directive, entrusted to the Ministry under the leadership of the Honorable 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 delivered this charge at the Inauguration of the National Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Taskforce held in Abuja on Tuesday , also stressed that addressing this challenge necessitates multisectoral coordination and sector-specific strategies.
Dr. Alausa elucidated that while there is a unified approach involving the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as well as the Federal Ministry of Environment, the inaugurated Taskforce is specifically focused on coordinating the use of Antimicrobials in humans, with the aim of enhancing population health outcomes and the overall healthcare system in the country.
The Minister highlighted that the Taskforce, comprising experts from healthcare and academia, has been established to implement the national action plan aimed at curtailing the proliferation of Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria.
He further emphasized the importance of establishing relevant sub-committees to achieve the set objectives, reiterating that the inauguration of the Taskforce signifies the commencement of a coordinated and strategic governmental response to address the issue of Antimicrobial resistance for the first time.
The Honourable Minister of State lamented the absence of an Antimicrobial Stewardship program for monitoring the patterns of Antimicrobial usage and sensitivity across the country.
He warned that this deficiency poses a significant threat, potentially leading to substantial issues of antimicrobial resistance that could result in high morbidity, mortality, and further strain on an already overburdened hospital system.
He underscored the necessity of establishing the Taskforce to provide national oversight for monitoring and offering guidance on antimicrobial use based on sensitivity results, thereby promoting prudent antimicrobial utilization.
Citing statistics from 2019, which revealed that 64,000 deaths were attributed to AMR and 263,400 were related to AMR, surpassing deaths from enteric infections, respiratory infections, tuberculosis, maternal and neonatal disorders, malaria, and cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Alausa reaffirmed the gravity of the situation. He pointed out that it is no surprise that the World Health Organization declared AMR a global threat in 2022.
Presenting the Terms of Reference of the Taskforce, Dr. Alausa outlined their activities centered around three thematic areas: Coordinating AMR surveillance and research activities in Nigeria – reviewing existing data on AMR, aligning agencies supporting AMR surveillance and research, and establishing effective nationwide surveillance.
Another thematic area involves creating an AMR data platform – establishing an integrated digital information network to facilitate communication, coordination, sharing, and dissemination of information on AMR in Nigeria, supporting the establishment of facility-based AMS Programs in the public and private health sectors, and establishing leadership at the State and Local Government levels for AMR surveillance and AMS stewardship.
The third thematic area aims to promote awareness and education on AMR – enhancing public and healthcare provider awareness of AMR, building capacity by training pediatric and adult infectious diseases physicians and pharmacists, and developing strategies for engaging and training personnel at retail pharmacies.
In her response, the Taskforce National Coordinator, Dr. Omobosola Akinsete, assured of their readiness and commitment to fulfilling their assigned tasks.
She emphasized the importance of collaborating with healthcare professionals, researchers, government bodies, and non-governmental organizations to instill a culture that extends beyond healthcare facilities and into every community, ensuring a healthier future for generations to come.
Dr. Akinsete pledged to adhere to all the Terms of Reference of the Taskforce, aiming to implement AMS in all well-equipped healthcare centers to aid in diagnosis, provide education to all healthcare providers, and develop guidelines and antibiograms tailored to different regions of the country.
She expressed the intent to utilize the information gathered to establish a framework prioritizing responsible antimicrobial use to safeguard the health and safety of the population.
Reassuring the Honourable Minister and the Nigerian populace at large of their dedication, the National Coordinator stated that the Taskforce would implement strategies focusing not only on policies and procedures but also on the various individuals involved.
She lamented the challenging conditions under which talented medical professionals in Nigeria operate, often resorting to the use of multiple antibiotics in a trial-and-error approach to treat infections due to limited resources.
During her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S.mni, expressed satisfaction in the establishment of the Taskforce to address the urgent global challenge of Antimicrobial resistance.
She highlighted how AMR poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s health security, economic development, and social well-being, citing issues such as limited access to quality healthcare, inadequate surveillance and monitoring, poor infection prevention and control practices, and misuse of antimicrobials in human and animal health.
She reiterated that through the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the country aims to make a tangible difference.
She urged the Taskforce to leverage their expertise and commit to this crucial national assignment in alignment with the Terms of Reference, with the goal of enhancing population health outcomes and fortifying the health system.
The Permanent Secretary expressed gratitude to the Honourable Minister of State for his efforts in combating AMR and acknowledged the support of all development partners.
The ceremony was graced by distinguished personalities who conveyed goodwill messages on behalf of their respective organizations, including the Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Walter Kazaki Mulumbo, Mr. Tajudeen from the Global Fund, CCM, Jibrin Kama from IHVN, Dr. Babagana Adam representing the Permanent Secretary of the FCT Environment and Health Services, and Dr. Tomitope, the Director-General of NACA, among others.
