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Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari
The Federal Government has launched a comprehensive National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, emphasising the need for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to address this urgent health crisis.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during a ceremony at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja on Monday.
Kyari stressed the urgent need for a unified approach, stating, “We must work together under the One Health Approach to ensure improved public health, food security, and sustainable development.”
He said the new action plan outlines six strategic objectives aimed at strengthening the country’s response to AMR, including enhancing leadership and surveillance systems, increasing public awareness, and implementing infection prevention and control programmes.
Represented by the Director of Planning and Policy Coordination, Mr Ibrahim Tanimu, Kyari underscored the implications of AMR, noting, “Antimicrobial resistance is predicted to cause about an 11 per cent decline in livestock production in low-income countries by 2050.”
He emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to addressing these challenges through the establishment of laboratory networks and national guidelines for the responsible use of antimicrobial drugs in animals.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammed Pate, echoed the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health, stating, “AMR occurs when microorganisms evolve and develop the ability to survive treatments that once killed them.”
He pointed out the severity of the situation, revealing that AMR claimed 4.7 million lives globally in 2020.
The event also featured remarks from the World Health Organization’s Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo, who noted the significant milestone in understanding the environmental impacts on AMR.
“This achievement demonstrates leadership and ownership in addressing this pressing issue,” he stated.
Additionally, the Co-chair of the AMR Technical Working Group, Kabir Junaid, highlighted the importance of the newly adopted action plan, asserting that it will guide the country’s efforts in combating AMR effectively.
The ceremony culminated in the unveiling of both the National Action Plan on AMR and the National Genomics Surveillance Strategy, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against antimicrobial resistance.
