By Asma’u Ahmad
A Consultant Microbiologist, Dr. Mutiu Bamidele, has urged the Federal Government to initiate a national policy on the usage and monitoring of resistance to antibiotics.
Dr. Bamidele, who lectures at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, made the plea in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
Wikipaedia, an online free encyclopaedia, defines antibiotics, also called antibacterial, as a type of antimicrobial drug used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections.
Bamidele spoke against the recent commitment by world leaders on the need for an act on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Newsmen report that World Leaders had on September 21 signalled an unprecedented level of attention to curb the spread of infections that were resistant to antimicrobial medicines.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), also in a statement said, “AMR happens when bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi develop resistance against medicines that were previously able to cure them.”
According to Bamidele, to curb antimicrobial resistance, there is need for a national antibiotic policy which will address when and how antibiotic should be used.
“Also, it will stipulate who to prescribe antibiotics to, which are supposed to be a controlled drug.
“But, it is now available all over the counters in Nigeria; the policy will also specify monitoring of resistance across the country,” Bamidele said.
The consultant also called for infection prevention and control policy to address issues of high rate of hospital acquired infections and its attendant cost, morbidity and mortality.
Bamidele said that the policy would prevent the spread of resistant microbes among the patients.
