BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
Nigerian ministers have warned against the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, urging citizens, healthcare workers and livestock farmers to adopt responsible practices to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The ministers said misuse of antibiotics, including taking incorrect doses, failing to complete prescribed treatment and using the drugs without medical advice, could worsen resistance and undermine their effectiveness.
They spoke during a hybrid interactive session with journalists in Abuja, with participants joining both physically and online, ahead of a global conference on antimicrobial resistance scheduled to hold in Nigeria from December 6 to 8.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, urged Nigerians not to use antibiotics for every cough or catarrh, advising them to consult qualified medical practitioners before taking the drugs.
Pate also stressed the importance of following prescribed treatment and taking antibiotics for the recommended duration, even when symptoms had subsided.
He said Nigeria had been building its capacity to address antimicrobial resistance through a national action plan, research and collaboration among experts in academic and public health institutions.
The minister explained that antimicrobial resistance required a coordinated response involving several sectors, including human health, animal health, agriculture and the environment.
He added that the government was strengthening drug regulation to improve access to quality medicines and tackle counterfeit and substandard products.
Pate cited efforts to regulate drug distribution, including the establishment of coordinated wholesale centres and measures by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to improve the quality and safety of medicines.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, described environmental hygiene as an important component of disease prevention, urging Nigerians to keep their surroundings clean to reduce infections and the need for antibiotics.
Lawal said preventing diseases through improved sanitation and environmental cleanliness would help reduce the demand for antimicrobial medicines.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maina, called for responsible antibiotic use among poultry and other livestock farmers, warning that indiscriminate administration of the drugs could pose risks to human health.
He urged farmers to prioritise vaccination, proper feeding, hygiene and biosecurity measures rather than routinely using antibiotics to promote animal growth.
Maina further advised farmers to administer antibiotics only when necessary and under appropriate prescription, while observing the required withdrawal periods before animals and their products were released for human consumption.
He said the ministry was working through extension agents to educate farmers on responsible antibiotic use and the dangers associated with improper practices.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, was also among the ministers participating in the engagement, which highlighted the need for coordinated action across government sectors to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
The ministers also underscored the need to communicate the dangers of antimicrobial resistance through relatable stories and local languages to improve public understanding and encourage behavioural change.
They said the forthcoming conference would provide an opportunity for participating countries to discuss practical policy measures to combat antimicrobial resistance while ensuring that people who genuinely need antibiotics can still access them.
The ministers called on the media to intensify public awareness of antimicrobial resistance and the importance of disease prevention, responsible medicine use and cooperation across sectors.
