*Nigeria鈥檚 National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has cautioned consumers against the apparently growing indiscriminate use of antibiotics resulting in avoidable聽deaths in the West African country

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In the health regulator鈥檚 commitment to ensuring only safe and wholesome foods, drugs, and other regulated products are available to Nigerian consumers, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), again, has raised the alarm over the growing indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the country.

The agency said the situation had further accelerated Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), resulting in avoidable deaths in Nigeria.

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC

AMR has been described as the ability of a pathogenic microorganism to resist the effect of antimicrobial agents when used to treat internal or external infections in human and animal populations.

绿帽献妻 reports Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, gave the warning at the virtual 2021 World Antimicrobial Resistance Week (WAAW) with the theme, 鈥楽pread Awareness Stop Resistance鈥�.

Prof. Adeyey noted that the war against AMR has not only gained global attention but also become a battle the human race must win.

Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC鈥檚 Resident Media Consultant, in a statement issued in Lagos quoted the Director-General said: 鈥淚 am delighted to be part of this battle and welcome all our esteemed stakeholders to the frontline. Creating awareness amid us all is a major step in AMR stewardship by relevant stakeholders to effectively stop resistance.鈥�

Adeyeye further said that NAFDAC is using the stakeholders鈥� meeting, to mark its participation in the 2021 WAAW, targeting professionals in the healthcare sector, veterinarians, animal husbandry professionals, plant pathologists and individuals that use antimicrobial agents.

According to AKintola, the NAFDAC Director-General disclosed the fight against AMR requires collective efforts that are interlinked along with the One-Health Concept.

In its regulatory activities, the agency stated that it introduced regulatory measures to curb the spread of AMR.

鈥淚t is very necessary and extremely important to ensure food safety and food security, a safe environment, and healthy citizens in our dear country,鈥� Adeyey said.

She also noted that everyone in the healthcare, livestock production and environmental management sub-sectors of the economy is directly or indirectly involved in curbing AMR in Nigeria.

Adeyeye as well reaffirmed NAFDAC鈥檚 commitment to ensuring that only safe and wholesome food, drugs, and other regulated products are available to Nigerians.

The agency, the Director-General said, is more dedicated to the delivery of quality services to stakeholders, hence its slogan: 鈥楥ustomer Focused鈥�Agency Minded鈥�.

She said further that NAFDAC had sought to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at state and Federal levels towards more effective regulation and active involvement in creating awareness about AMR in the country.

Ignorance or non-conformism among professionals will be a serious setback to ending the spread of AMR, said Prof. Adeyeye.

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