In furtherance of its statutory roles in ensuring that Nigerians consume standardized drugs and food items for healthy living, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in partnership with the Danish Embassy held a stakeholders workshop on the dangers of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) with a view to jointly combating the menace in the country.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, at the two-day workshop to celebrate the 2024 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) titled “Educate. Advocate. Act Now” held on Friday in Lagos, pointed out that infections once easily treated with antimicrobials were now becoming increasingly difficult and sometimes impossible to manage, due to the scourge of the AMR.
Adeyeye noted that the growing antimicrobial resistance had hampered decades of medical progress, potentially reversing successes in treating common infections, performing surgeries, and conducting medical procedures, adding that the most pressing danger is the antimicrobial resistance found at birth in new-born babies in a teaching hospital in Nigeria.
According to her, the implication of one of the most urgent global health challenges of our time, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), often referred to as the “Silent Pandemic” to human race is unquantifiable because it poses threat to man, animal, and plant (the environment).
She clarified: “AMR is not a distant threat; it is already impacting our lives,’ she further warned, adding that NAFDAC, in her regulatory activities, has identified the danger posed by AMR and has taken strides to identify the likely causes which range from the effect of substandard and falsified products (SF) to the abuse, misuse and irresponsible handling of microbial agents.”
She disclosed that the agency, based on its mandate as provided for in the NAFDAC Act Cap N1, LFN 2004, therefore developed the critical regulatory mechanisms to combat AMR, namely Review of the Formulation of Antibiotics by directing that all antibiotics formulations should not have more than two APIs. This directive is aimed at curbing the excessive use of antibiotics which may lead to the development of resistance.
Also, on Public Awareness on the risks of using antibiotics as growth promoter in livestock production, the agency’s directive is aimed at discouraging the use of antibiotics at sub-lethal doses which is a very effective means of encouraging resistance by non-beneficial microbes. Livestock rearers are encouraged to use alternative growth promoters such as organic acid, enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics which are cheaper and readily available for livestock production.
Adeyeye further spoke on education of stakeholders on the dangers of using Colistin as coccidiostat (prophylaxis) in poultry and swine production, stressing that Colistin has been used as an additive in poultry and swine feed. However, upon re-classification by WHO, colistin is presently considered a last line of defence against infections in humans caused by multidrug resistant gram-negative organism (AMR).
Due to this risk, she explained that the agency had been raising awareness amongst livestock rearers on the dangers of using Colistin as a coccidiostat and has been educating them on alternative treatments for prevention or treatment coccidiosis, in order to preserve Colistin for human use and prevent AMR development.
In addition, the NAFDAC boss stated on the agency’s enlightenment campaigns on the use of organic acids as mould inhibitor that in combating the growth of mould on animal feed and feedstuff, animal feed nutritionists have overtime used antibiotics to prevent mould growth.
She expatiated: “The agency has been educating stakeholders in animal feed and feedstuff on the risks of AMR and how the use of antibiotics in preventing mould growth on animal feed and feedstuff contributes to the threat of AMR in animals which consume the feed and then to humans who consume the animal products like milk, meat and eggs. Stakeholders have been encouraged to desist from this practice and instead embrace the use of organic acids in preventing growth of mould on feed and feedstuff leading to safer feeds, healthier animals and humans.”
In addition to the above, she explained that the Agency created an In-house AMR–OH committee that collaborate with other sister MDAs such as Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Environment, Veterinary Council of Nigeria VCN, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science NIAS, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and foreign partners such as WHO, World Organisation for Animal Health WOAH, RAGNA of European Union EU among others in combating AMR.
The NAFDAC boss stated that the agency had also stepped-up advocacy and enlightenment campaigns on the danger of AMR to stakeholders, professionals, and farmers, adding that ‘as we mark this important week, which has now become the Agency tradition, we recognize that AMR respects no borders.’
She said that AMR remained a global issue requiring coordinated national and international solutions, adding that ‘together, we must commit to the responsible use of antibiotics and other antimicrobials, support ongoing research, and promote stewardship programs and policies to safeguard these essential resources for future generations.’
Adeyeye also disclosed that NAFDAC’s regulatory efforts on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) included ensuring the quality and the distribution of antimicrobial products used in Nigeria, implementing stewardship programs to ensure responsible handling and use of antimicrobial agents, and conducting public awareness campaigns to educate on AMR risks.
She said that the agency also gathered surveillance data on AMR trends to develop policy in with global standards through international collaboration, stressing that the initiatives are crucial to preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials agents and protecting public health.
Adeyeye recalled that at the recent 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on AMR, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to action, including a target to reduce the estimated 4.95 million annual deaths associated with AMR by 10% in 2030.
According to her, the UNGA meeting’s additional goals involve achieving 100% basic water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management services in healthcare facilities and ensuring 90% of countries meet WHO’s minimum standards for infection prevention and control (IPC) by 2030.
In agriculture and animal health, she said that the global community has committed to significantly reducing antimicrobial use in agri-food systems by 2030, adding that this will involve prioritizing preventative measures and ensuring that antimicrobials are used prudently and responsibly within animal health.
She commended the Danish Embassy and Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) for their support and collaboration in organizing the event.
Adeyeye charged all stakeholders to strengthen their collective commitment to raising awareness, enhancing prudent practices, and advancing impactful solutions against antimicrobial resistance.
She maintained: “Together, we must act decisively across sectors, institutions, and communities to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials, protect global health, and secure a safer future for all. This week, let each of us reaffirm our roles in this global effort, championing responsible antimicrobial use and inspire change that reaches beyond borders.”
In his remarks, the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens Ole Bach Hansen, pledged his country’s continued support for NAFDAC to combat AMR which he described as a global health challenge.
He noted with dismay that it was one of the major causes of death around the world and therefore recognised as one of the global public health challenges which require global solutions.
The envoy described as heartwarming the mutually beneficial relationship between NAFDAC and the Danish Veterinary and Food Agency and Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.
Hansen said the collaboration runs through strategic sectoral cooperation SSC and focuses on capacity development and transfer of experiences between authorities on matters of food safety and sustainable livestock production, adding that the partners have agreed to collaborate particularly in three areas – Food and Feed safety Animal identification and Disease control and prudent use of Veterinary drugs.
According to him, the collaboration is complemented by a learning programme by the Danish Fellowship Centre where NAFDAC regulatory officers are trained on food safety, disease control and One Health approach. He said, ‘The Danish partnership is particularly concerned with the transfer of knowledge and experience with regards to combating the spread of AMR in Nigeria.’
Photo Caption
L-R: Senior Counsellor, Food and Agriculture, Royal Danish Consulate General in Lagos, Ms Sanne Chipeta; Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye; and the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens Ole Bach Hansen during the two-day workshop to mark the 2024 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) with the theme “Educate. Advocate. Act Now” on Friday Lagos
