ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) SENSITIZATION DRIVE
The evolution of microbial pathogens able to resist antimicrobial treatment is one of the most pressing public health crises. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major challenge to global health.
For the past few decades, AMR has been a growing threat to effective treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. Antimicrobial usage in animals, humans and agriculture results in spreading of antimicrobial residues into aquatic and terrestrial environment. AMR affects not only human health but also other sectors such as animal health, agriculture, food security, water and sanitation and economic development.
There is need to minimize the health, social and economic impact of antimicrobial resistance. To avert this disaster, the County Department of Health and Sanitation carried an a AMR sensitization for healthcare workers from Mosop and Nandi Hills Sub County, to create a better understanding of Antimicrobial Resistance from a Health perspective through raising awareness and understanding on antimicrobial use, resistance prevention, and containment through effective communication and training, strengthening knowledge and evidence on antimicrobial use and resistance.
Dr David Bungei, County Director of Health
The sensitization contributed to the creation of better understanding and raising awareness on antimicrobial use, resistance prevention, and containment, which is a key target area in the county’s plan to tackle AMR.
The sensitization sessions helped the healthcare workers put this new information into context to better understand antimicrobial resistance as a public health challenge.
The County Director of Health Dr David Bungei who convened the event noted that currently the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics was the major contributor to the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
Dr Diana Jeruto, County AMR Coordinator
“As antibiotics lose their effectiveness, treating infections becomes increasingly challenging resulting in an increase of major illnesses and in severe cases the death of patients.” said Dr Bungei.
According to the County AMR Coordinator Dr Diana Jeruto, the over-use and misuse of antimicrobials is a major contributing factor to AMR in humans. “We strongly discourage the public from over-the-counter antibiotic usage and in the event of sickness, we urge patients to seek medical consultation from a licensed medical practitioner.”
Dr Andrew Kisang, County Pharmacist
The County Pharmacist Dr Andrew Kisang called on pharmacists countywide to heed the resolutions made by Pharmacists at the PSKASC2019, in part that called for pharmacist to offer leadership at their local level by attending and participating in local social events in order to be plugged into the real needs of society.
Sharing of drugs is a common occurrence in many low and middle invome settings and households, and a major contributing behaviour to AMR.
“To be sincere at our home we share medication. We guess it is not a good habit but we do it. If we have a family member who has been given medications but starts feeling well before he/she finishes taking the given medication, we advise them to stop taking the medication because they are already recovered. In that case, we keep the remaining drugs and if another person at our home feels sick with similar signs, we automatically use the remaining medication”, narrated a participant at one of the awareness sessions.