The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has raised alarm over the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Nigeria, revealing that the country recorded over 64,000 deaths in 2019 linked to the issue.
Speaking at the launch of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2.0 in Abuja, Pate warned that AMR presents an escalating danger to public health and modern medical practices, putting millions of lives at risk.
During the event, organized by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Pate explained that these fatalities occurred at a time when less than half of Nigeria’s population—42.7 per cent—had access to healthcare services.
He described AMR as an urgent public health challenge that extends beyond humans to affect animals, crops, and the environment.
“AMR threatens the very foundation of modern medicine, rendering routine procedures, surgeries, and treatments less effective, and at times, ineffective,” Pate stated.
He further emphasized that if immediate and effective action is not taken, the problem could spiral out of control.
By 2050, AMR is projected to cause 10 million deaths annually, potentially surpassing cancer as a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
Pate also highlighted the economic implications, with global losses potentially exceeding $100 trillion due to the increasing resistance of microbes to treatment.
Antimicrobial Resistance occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to survive once effective treatments.
This leads to more difficult-to-treat infections, longer illness durations, increased medical costs, and higher mortality rates.
The growing prevalence of AMR in Nigeria, according to Pate, is largely driven by the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial drugs in humans, animals, and agriculture. In healthcare, inappropriate prescribing practices and incomplete treatment courses are significant contributors.
In the agricultural sector, particularly in livestock farming, antibiotics are often used not just to treat disease but also to promote growth, further exacerbating the problem of resistance.
Pate’s concerns were reinforced by findings from a situational analysis of AMR in Nigeria, which revealed that resistant microbes are becoming increasingly common, with transmission occurring between humans, animals, and the environment. This makes the fight against AMR a global health challenge.
To address this looming crisis, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with NCDC, launched the revised National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2.0. This updated plan builds upon the 2017 version and is set to guide the country’s AMR response over the next five years.
The plan outlines six key strategic objectives, which include strengthening leadership and surveillance systems, improving public awareness, promoting infection prevention and control programs, ensuring access to quality antimicrobial drugs, and enhancing the knowledge capacity of relevant stakeholders.
“This revised action plan reflects our resolve to meet these challenges head-on,” Pate said, emphasizing that its implementation is critical to containing AMR in Nigeria.
Dr Kabir Junaid, the co-chair of the AMR technical working group, highlighted the importance of the revised plan, calling it crucial in directing Nigeria’s efforts in combatting antimicrobial resistance.
He added that successful implementation would require collaboration between healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public.
