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Lagos State Health Commissioner Prof Akin Abayomi
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has said multidrug-resistant organisms are a major biosecurity threat globally and in the state.
Speaking at the fourth lecture of Global Infectious Diseases Initiatives, titled, ‘Multidrug-resistant organisms, clinical implications and outcomes,’ Abayomi stressed the need to tackle drug-resistant infections.
He explained that it was critical to identify and address these pathogens, develop countermeasures, and establish strategies to mitigate biological risks.
“Some of these pathogens comprising bacteria and parasites pose severe threats to national security, leading to high morbidity without available treatments.
“Due to their complexity, they require advanced facilities and specialised environments to be properly studied and managed.
“Their impact extends beyond health, posing a significant danger to the environment,” he said.
He added that Antimicrobial Resistance also represented a serious global health threat, with Africa disproportionately affected.
He said, “One in three deaths linked to AMR results from drug-resistant infections. There is a need for education, research capacity building, and an understanding of the indigenous implications of biological shocks.
“Addressing AMR demands a multi-faceted approach, including preparation, relevant research, and the translation of policies into actionable plans. It is essential to grasp the sensitivity of pathogens to ensure effective treatment, and laboratories must be equipped with the expertise to identify the specific pathogens affecting the population.”
He maintained that Lagos must adopt a strategic outlook, focusing on policy direction, surveillance, human resources for health, innovation, drug management, and biosecurity measures.
“By building resilience and proactively addressing these risks, Lagos can better safeguard public health and mitigate the impact of future biological threats,” the commissioner added.
In his remarks, the MD of Global Infectious Diseases Initiative, Dr Folarin Olubowale, revealed that antimicrobials are antibiotics, antiviral antiparasitic and antifungal, saying that microorganisms were now getting resistant to drugs, tuberculosis was now difficult to treat globally, and some babies were born with drug-resistant HIV.
He said the causes of drug resistance included the misuse and overuse of drugs, poor sanitation in certain areas, inadequate government regulation of medications, and natural mutations in bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi.
“Avoid abusing antimicrobials; it could cost you your life,” he warned.
Dr Chinelo Animalu of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, who discussed the “History of Antibiotics and the Emergence of Antibiotic Resistance,” stated that the routine use of antibiotics in agriculture has been identified as a major contributor to the high occurrence of antibiotic resistance in humans.
“Routine use of antibiotics in agriculture has been described as a major contributor to the high occurrence of antibiotic resistance in humans.
“Suspected mechanisms include direct infection with resistant bacteria from an animal source, breaches in the species barrier followed by sustained transmission in humans of resistant strains arising in livestock, transfer of resistance genes from agriculture into human pathogens,” she said.
The Chief Medical Officer and Infection Specialist of Middle Georgia, Dr Mobolaji Ogunsakin, stressed the need for Nigeria to strengthen its national public health systems to enhance pandemic preparedness and combat infections caused by resistant gram-negative bacteria.
“The continuous spread of antimicrobial resistance, especially antibiotic resistance, presents an urgent public health problem.
“To ensure adequate response, significant national resources must be deployed to develop and implement effective countermeasures,” Ogunsakin said.
