By Asma’u Ahmad
A Consultant at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching University (ABUTH) Zaria, Prof. Adebola Olayinka, has advocated proper guidelines for the use of antibiotics by Nigerians.
Professor Olayinka, a Professor of Medical Microbiology, made call at the Faculty of Pathology, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria’s (NPMCN) 20th All Fellows Meeting in Lagos.
Newsmen report that the topic of the event was “A Vicious Cycle: Antibiotic Use and Antibacterial Resistance.”
She said that the recent increase rate of antibiotics resistance had been linked to overuse of antibiotics.
Olayinka said that bacteria have developed specific mechanism of resistance which had affected the therapeutic use of antibiotics.
According to the consultant, antibiotics are available without prescription; unqualified vendors are licensed to sell drugs by the Local Government Authority.
Olayinka said that self-medication was the order of the day, adding that inappropriate use of antibiotics is a global problem.
“There needs to be a reduction of unnecessary antibiotics prescriptions for example for viral infections or prolonged
prophylaxis, we need guidelines for antibiotics usage in our health facilities.
“The resistance is directly related to the volume of antibiotics used; we must change how we use antibiotics and adopt proactive strategies to ensure this.
“We need to advocate for a policy response to this growing threat of antibiotics resistance because we cannot afford a post-antibiotic era where infection cannot be treated,” she said.
The microbiologist called for infection prevention and control programme to prevent the spreading of multi drug resistance organism which already exists.
She said the structure of the programme should include adequate funding needs to be set up at all healthcare levels and educational institutions targeted at all stakeholders.
