Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been labeled a silent yet deadly pandemic by medical professionals who emphasize the urgent need for awareness and advocacy in combating it. At a workshop titled “Educate, Advocate, Act Now” held in Owerri, convener Chukwuemeka Paschal highlighted the importance of education and collective action in addressing this growing crisis. He articulated that AMR threatens the essential pillars of modern medicine, risking the effectiveness of treatments for even the simplest infections. The implications of AMR span various critical areas, including food security, economic stability, and the health of both humans and animals. Paschal called for unity in the fight against AMR, urging participants to prioritize education and action to ensure a sustainable future.
Resource speaker Abujah Racheal underscored the alarming scope of AMR, describing it as a silent crisis with devastating consequences for health and livelihoods in Nigeria. She referenced the World Health Organization’s definition of AMR as the phenomenon where microorganisms mutate to resist medications designed to eliminate them. The statistics on AMR’s global impact are dire, with approximately 1.27 million deaths linked to resistance annually, while an additional 4.95 million deaths are associated with resistant infections. In Nigeria, the situation is particularly dire, as incidences of drug-resistant malaria, tuberculosis, and bacterial infections continue to escalate, leaving healthcare practitioners struggling to provide effective treatments. Racheal painted a vivid picture of this crisis, illustrating grim scenarios where treatable infections become fatal due to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics, encapsulating the real-life ramifications of AMR.
To combat AMR, Racheal emphasized the pressing need for public education about the dangers of antibiotic misuse, particularly self-medication and over-prescription. She highlighted how both community members and farmers contribute to the escalating issue through their practices and called for rigorous investigative journalism to uncover the underlying causes and hold accountable those in leadership positions. Racheal asserted that effectively addressing this crisis is complex and demands a multisectoral approach, integrating healthcare, agriculture, education, and media efforts. She expressed optimism that the journalistic community could play a critical role in illuminating the AMR issue and fostering necessary changes.
Ridwan Yahaya, the Antimicrobial Stewardship Manager of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), also reinforced the significant role journalists can play in the AMR fight. He presented sobering statistics, noting that approximately 200,000 newborns die every year from complications related to AMR. Yahaya appealed to journalists to harness their influence and reach out to young people, policymakers, patients, and survivors to catalyze urgent action against this crisis. His call to action emphasized the impact that well-informed and engaged media can have in shaping the public’s understanding and response to AMR, thereby fostering wider mobilization for change.
Olayinka Umar Farouk, Deputy Project Director of Risk Communication at Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, focused on the importance of effective reporting strategies for AMR awareness and behavioral changes among communities. He urged journalists to embody the role of change agents, advocating for awareness programs that can educate the public, promote healthy practices, and discourage the misuse of antibiotics. Farouk reinforced that journalists carry a critical responsibility in enlightening the populace about AMR and in collaborating with health professionals to address this pressing global challenge.
In summary, the rising issue of antimicrobial resistance is a complex pandemic that necessitates urgent action, education, and advocacy across various societal sectors. The workshop in Owerri showcased the collaborative efforts of health experts and journalists to draw attention to AMR’s implications for public health and societal well-being. The overarching message emphasized the need for collective responsibility in tackling AMR, from healthcare providers to the general public, underlining the vital role of informed advocacy and action to combat this silent crisis effectively.
