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PM places six proposals to stop random use of antibiotics

January 27, 2021 00:00:00


Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed on Tuesday the need for immediate global actions to decrease careless and indiscriminate use of antibiotics to effectively fight the silently emerging antimicrobial resistance that could endanger mankind, reports BSS.

In a recorded speech aired in the inaugural meeting of the One Health Global Leaders' Group on Anti-microbial Resistance, she placed six proposals to fight the antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Her propels include strict implementation of the laws, stopping selling antimicrobial products without prescription and promoting research in the area of the AMR.

"Humankind is facing one of the gravest threats due to the Covid-19 pandemic for more than a year now. However, the silently emerging antimicrobial resistance could endanger all of the significant advances of modern medicine," said Sheikh Hasina

"If we cannot control the careless and indiscriminate use of the antibiotics at this moment, we will see more frequent and even more deadly pandemics in future," she added.

The Prime Minister further said without immediate action by the global community, antimicrobial resistance is going to be a major threat to the existence of mankind.

The WHO (World Health Organisation), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) and OIE organised the meeting at Geneva in Switzerland.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Director Generals of WHO, FAO and OIE spoke at the function.

Sheikh Hasina, also co-chair of One Health Global Leaders' Group, said though the World Health Assembly resolution of 1998 decided to fight against this resistance, "we are far from reaching our goal to prevent this threat. As a result, we need to promote and ensure rational use of antimicrobial agents in human health, livestock, fisheries and agricultural sectors. "

"To prevent the impending catastrophe, I would like to suggest the following, firstly strict implementation of laws and rules to control the production, quality control and marketing of Antimicrobial agents," she said.

In the second proposal, the premier said comprehensive laboratory based surveillance systems need to be established for human, fisheries and animal.

Placing the third one, she said selling of antimicrobial products without prescription of the authorized person needs to be strictly prohibited.

The Prime Minister in her fourth proposal made a suggestion to promote basic, experimental and operational research in the area of AMR with allocation of necessary budgets.

In her fifth suggestion, she proposed establishment of high-level advocacy, communication and social mobilisation mechanisms to regulate the unnecessary use of antimicrobials.

And in the sixth proposal, Sheikh Hasina said finally, political goodwill and focus of the global leaders for strict implementation are crucial and the support from FAO, OIE, WHO, UN Environment and other international and regional entities is indispensable in this process.


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