Nigeria’s GDP is set to be reduced by 4% by 2030, with an over 400% increase in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)- related deaths. Dr Laxmikant Chavan, Technical Officer and Coordinator for One Health at the World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria has stressed the need for a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the recent rising threat of AMR.
Speaking at a two-day capacity-building event for journalists organized by WHO Nigeria, with the theme: “Empowering Journalists to drive the change narrative with compelling data-drive health story”, he emphasized that collective efforts across diverse sectors are essential to combating the global AMR crisis.
The Situation in Nigeria
In Nigeria, AMR claims around 64,500 lives directly and 263,400 indirectly each year, with a disturbing 20% of these deaths occurring among children under five.
He also warned that globally, AMR threatens to push 28 million people into extreme poverty, aggravating existing socioeconomic issues. The session at Abuja emphasized AMR’s hindrance to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3, which addresses good health and well-being.
The alarming impact of AMR is already evident in Nigeria, where outbreaks of diphtheria and fungal infections resistant to multiple treatments have occurred. Failing to address AMR could have devastating consequences, potentially surpassing malaria, HIV, and TB in severity and costing the global economy significantly.
The Global Fight Against AMR
AMR is a significant public health concern, responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and 4.95 million related deaths. The alarming rise of AMR deaths could skyrocket to 39 million by 2050 if not tackled.
Dr Chavan stressed that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) demands a collaborative approach across multiple ministries, including Health, Agriculture, Food Security, Environment, and Water, as it impacts human and animal health.
The Coordinator pointed out that the World Health Assembly and United Nations General Assembly have set targets to reduce AMR-related deaths by 10% by 2030. Dr Chavan also highlighted that AMR targets have been included for the first time in history, as AMR has the tendency to become a global concern ahead of maladies like HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. This milestone underscores the urgency and importance of addressing AMR.
The World Health Organization has outlined research priorities and interventions to guide countries in addressing AMR. The Coordinator noted that addressing AMR is crucial, as without it, meeting global health targets will become increasingly challenging.
An upcoming inter-ministerial meeting in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for November, aims to transform recent declarations on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) into concrete actions. This development is crucial, as AMR poses significant global health and economic threats.
Investing in AMR initiatives yields substantial returns, with every dollar invested potentially generating $7-13 in health and economic benefits. To mitigate the looming crises, policymakers and stakeholders must prioritize AMR.
