MoH issues warning on misuse of antibiotics

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has warned people in the country not to overuse antibiotics, claiming that doing so puts them at risk of dying from treatable infections.

Dr Watipaso Kasambala -MoH

Malawi: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has warned people in the country not to overuse antibiotics, claiming that doing so puts them at risk of dying from treatable infections.

Moh Watipaso Kasambara, the national coordinator for antimicrobial resistance, stated this on Saturday during the second day of World Antibiotics Resistance Week in Lilongwe.

She stated that many people take antibiotics without a prescription from a competent health professional and that some do not finish the full dosage as prescribed after feeling better.

She stated: "As antibiotic resistance persists in Malawi, there is a need to improve antibiotic stewardship. Most people either do not finish their antibiotics or take them against their doctor's advice. And it is for this reason that we have enlisted the help of various stakeholders to educate the public on the proper use of antibiotics as well as the risks associated with them. Our goal is to influence behaviour ".

According to Peter Mwale, Chief Veterinarian at Central Veterinary Laboratory, consumable animals have the potential to spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans if they are treated with antibiotics without consulting a veterinarian specialist.

He stated: "We eat chickens, goats, and beef whose infections may have been treated by someone who lacks knowledge and competence on antibiotics.

The risks are that antibiotics in animals and humans are the same, so if antibiotics are injected in animals and someone eats that, if there was no proper prescription, people can acquire an antibiotic-resistant bacteria ".

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 700,000 people die globally each year as a result of antibiotic resistance-related causes, with a projected 10 million deaths by 2050 if nothing is done.

The Ministry of Health joined the rest of the world in Antimicrobial Awareness Week (AAW), which began on November 18 and is expected to end on November 24 at the Bingu International Conference Centre.

The annual global campaign is held to raise public awareness and understanding of antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices.