Kenya marks the World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week 2024 (WAAW)
Health experts have advised Kenyans to get antibiotic drugs only after getting a prescription from a qualified medical doctor.
According to the experts, it is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 Million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.
The experts were speaking during the launch of the World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness (AMR) Week 2024 in Nairobi.
“The human body contains more bacterial cells than human cells and the more you take antibiotics the more the cells are killed. The more antibiotics we take, the more the resistance,” said Dr. Loice Ombajo an Infectious Diseases Specialist at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta National Hospital.
Dr. Emmanuel Tanui, AMR Focal Point at the Ministry of Health said the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and plants are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
“The key drivers of AMR are misuse of antimicrobials, and lack of proper infection control. This has led to the development of new resistance mechanisms, high risk of medication procedures and increase of cost of treatment,” Dr. Tanui said.
Fleming Fund representative Dr. Morris Buliva stressed the need for sustainability with regard to efforts aimed at containing AMR in Kenya.
“How do we sustain these key gains that we have had for the last 7 years. Our plea to the government is to try and include these gains into its structures. The equipment that has been put in these labs costs a lot and it would be a shame if we just leave them to stay there as white elephants. This should be included in the budgets of both the national and county governments for sustainability,” Dr. Buliva said.
His sentiments were also echoed by Dr. Ombajo who said most of our laboratories have been set up by partners and there needs to be a plan by the government to support them once the partners exit.
“As Kenyans we cannot continue to rely on partners forever. We have to think about how the government supports the work that needs to be done in order to control AMR. AMR is not an individual issue, it’s about people working together,” Dr. Ombajo said.
During the launch event, Kenya's multi-sectoral committee unveiled the National Action Plan on efforts of advocacy and awareness roll-out around the country that will sensitize citizens from households to all the other stakeholders. They also unveiled a portal and a Mobile phone Application that has 13 downloadable important policy documents that will guide the healthcare givers and patients on safety. Click here to view the portal
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign to raise awareness, understanding and best practices with the public, One Health stakeholders, and other policymakers. One of WHO’s official health campaigns since 2015, WAAW is celebrated from 18 to 24 November every year.
