According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, the ‘Antimicrobial Resistance’, AMR is becoming one of the ten global health threats. At least 4.95 million deaths are estimated to be related to AMR in 2019. The Minister of Health in a message in conjunction with the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 emphasized that the matter indeed requires immediate action by all levels of society including global leaders, policy makers and others.
According to Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Md Isham bin Haji Jaafar, antimicrobial resistance is a natural process in microbes or germs that results in the loss of effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments used to treat various microbial infections. However, the process of natural antimicrobial resistance is becoming more difficult to deal with due to the effects of various human activities, which are undesirable in several sectors such as human health, animal and plant health and the environment. The Minister of Health added that the intended activities include inappropriate, uncontrolled and excessive use of antimicrobial drugs; inadequate infection prevention and control measures; poor quality agricultural and food processing practices; and inadequate sewage and waste management.
The Minister of Health also advised that each individual has a role to ensure that any antimicrobial treatment taken should be on the advice of a doctor and follow the instructions given. An active role in infection control and prevention includes: avoiding or limiting going out if have symptoms like a cold; wash hands regularly; prioritizing hygiene during the preparation and consumption of food and drinks as well as obtaining vaccinations for certain infections, according to medical condition when necessary.
The theme of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together” responds to the global call to take responsibility for dealing with Antimicrobials. The WHO also supports strategies to encourage the prudent use of antimicrobials and strengthen preventive measures to deal with antimicrobial resistance, AMR through collaborative cooperation with a holistic and multi-pronged approach known as “One Health approach”.
Source: Radio Television Brunei