By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, Nov. 23, GNA – The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has cautioned the public about the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is projected to claim 10 million lives annually by 2050 if urgent action is not taken.
Dr Samuel Kow Donkoh, Pharmacist and President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), said antimicrobial resistance occurred when micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolved to resist the effects of medicines designed to prevent them from multiplying or to kill them.
That, he said, rendered treatments ineffective, leading to prolonged illnesses, increased mortality and rising cost of healthcare.
The President said this at a press conference together with the Ministry of Health and Pharmacy Council to mark the commemoration of World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024, on the global theme: “Educate. Advocate. Act Now,” and on the national theme: “Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Ghana.”
He said in Ghana, AMR had been a growing concern that threatened to reverse decades of progress in healthcare delivery and its contributing factors include misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine.
Others are inadequate infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings and poor sanitation and hygiene, which facilitate the spread of drug-resistant infections.
Dr Kow Donkoh said the PSGH together with all stakeholders in the healthcare delivery value chain were fostering a collective commitment to combating its spread.
“As pharmacists, we stand at the forefront of healthcare delivery, tasked with safeguarding the efficacy of antimicrobial agents and ensuring their responsible use to protect present and future generations,” he said.
Some common conditions that are reported to lead to the abuse of antimicrobials include flu or cold and with these conditions, the experts said people should not request for antibiotics when they had flu or cold.
In a Statement, the PSGH said most flus and colds were caused by viruses and did not require antibiotics, adding that only over-the-counter (OTC) medications were required to minimize the symptoms.
It said most coughs were self-limiting and did not require antibiotics.
Cough mixtures or lozenges they said could be useful in most cases whilst on sore throats, they said such conditions should be treated with FDA-approved lozenges for most cases
“Most cases of diarrhoea only require frequent oral rehydration salts (ORS) and Zinc tablets without recourse to antibiotics. Severe diarrheoa cases require hospitalization, especially in children under five years. Where other medications are required, talk to your pharmacist for appropriate advise and recommendation,” it added
The PSGH also said not all feverish conditions were due to malaria and that citizens must test for malaria before taking malaria medication. It said, “do not take anti-malarials when you do not test positive for the malaria parasites.”
Dr Emmanuella Abassah-Konadu, Pharmacist, AMR Secretariat, Ministry of Health, said the Ministry had implemented an action plan to reduce AMR from 2017 to 2021 and would launch another plan next year to seal the gaps identified.
Dr Mrs Brenda Yayra Opong, Head, Registration and Licensing, Pharmacy Council, said all Pharmacists and over-the-counter medicine shops in particular were to adhere to operation guidelines, adding that the OTCs risks losing their licenses when the Council during their monitoring realised they had in stock antibiotics.
GNA