The Sunday Mail
Dr Tinashe Hobodo
A fortnight ago, Zimbabwe observed a week set aside by the United Nations to understand the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
AMR is a serious threat to human and animal life and biodiversity.
In 2015, the World Health Organisation Assembly made a resolution to combat AMR by way of a political declaration.
That same year, WHO designed the Global Action Plan to combat AMR.
The plan was formulated with input from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation as a multilateral collaboration generally known as the Tripartite on Combating AMR.
The Tripartite resolved to fight AMR using a “one health” approach.
Both FAO and OIE also formulated action plans that complemented efforts by WHO as articulated in the GAP.
The Tripartite will now be joined by the UN Environment, which is important in harbouring resistant micro-organisms and assisting their spread.
A global situation analysis indicates that about 700 00 human deaths per annum can be attributed to AMR and the projection is that if nothing is done by 2050, this figure will go up to 10 million.
The OIE is the standard setting body for the World Trade Organisation on issues to do with animal health with respect to land and water animals.
Its standards assist members to consistently improve animal health.
As antimicrobial use (AMU) in animals is key for food security, public health and trade, OIE guidance on AMR is of vital importance in guiding veterinary services activities.
For the Antibiotic Week, OIE messages targeted key stakeholders namely vet doctors/veterinarians, veterinary students, farmers, pharmaceutical products manufacturers, pharmaceutical products wholesalers and retailers; and stock feed manufactures since in some cases there is use of medicated feeds.
Veterinary students must have modules, in their curriculum, with AMR as a topic.
This will enable them to receive training and understanding on AMU and AMR together with the magnitude of the problem in relation to safeguarding animal health and learning about the implications to food safety and public health.
When they complete their studies, they will have an understanding of the significance of rational AMU and the devastating implications of misuse, abuse and overuse of antimicrobials.
Among practicing veterinarians awareness is being raised on the depth of the problem of AMR and their key role as custodians of the rational use of antimicrobials in the animal health sector. They prescribe treatment of animal infectious diseases and hence play a pivotal role in the AMU and advisory role to farmers on the proper use of antimicrobials.
Farmers should seek advice from veterinarians when their animals fall sick.
They should use medicine for animal treatment under the instruction of a veterinarian.
The directions of use of the medicine must be strictly followed.
The farmers are strongly advised to adhere to the recommended withdrawal periods for each antimicrobial they use.
In food producing animals, if withdrawal periods of drugs are not followed, drug residues remain in the meat and animal products and they are consumed by humans.
When humans consume drug residues in food, the bacteria in the lower segments of their digestive system are exposed to sub lethal doses of antimicrobials which lead to development of AMR.
Pharmaceuticals, wholesalers and retailers are key players in the use of antimicrobials and play a critical role in AMU since they are the gateway to access of drugs for animal use by professionals and farmers.
Prescription medication must never be sold over the counter and retailers of pharmaceuticals should always strictly request a doctor’s prescription from the farmer before medication can be dispensed. Free access to prescription drugs can result in irrational use by poorly informed users.
As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. There is a need to uphold principles of infection prevention and control, biosecurity and hygiene.
Preventive medicine through the use of vaccines reduces incidences of infections and hence cancels the need to use antimicrobials.
If there is no infection there is no need to use antimicrobials and hence averting the dangers of AMR.
Rational use of antimicrobials under the guidance of experts should always be done.
We must safeguard the few antimicrobials we have because it is not easy to come up with new ones. It takes huge financial investments and many years to come up with safe and effective medicinal products.
AMR has devastating impact on human and animal health and negative impact on livestock productivity and the economy.
In the crop sector, use of antimicrobials must continue to be checked in line with the National Action Plan.
Use of antibiotics as growth promoters is one such practice that should be discouraged.
All supply chain stakeholders are also advised to seek implementation of alternatives to the use of antimicrobials.
These include on farm biosecurity measures, general hygiene and best practices in animal husbandry and preventive vaccination among other initiatives. Let us join hands in the sectors of human and animal health, food and agriculture, environment and civic society to fight AMR.
A one health approach involving multi-sectoral partners is the best way to combat AMR.
Dr Tinashe Hobodo is Head of Biotechnology in the Department of Veterinary Services under the Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Ministry
