Ghana drafts policy on antimicrobial use and resistance

By Kwamina Tandoh, GNA
Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - The Food and Agriculture Organisation has held a day's consultative meeting in Accra to validate a 33-page document policy on Antimicrobial use and Resistance (AMR) in Agriculture.

The workshop was to discuss and consolidate upon a 'One Health National Policy on AMR' that takes into account holistic and complimentary inputs from, human health, food and agriculture sectors.

The meeting brought together 70 participants including government officials, private sector, farming based organisations, academia, veterinarians, the media and other partners.

AMR is a worldwide health threat at the human-animal-environment interface.

Overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in different sectors could result in ineffectiveness of previously successful human and animal treatments of diseases.

Antimicrobials or their active components could also play a role in resistance development if they are present in the environment such as in manure for agriculture purposes from treated animals or humans, water from fishponds or in waste water from the antimicrobial producing industry.

The 33-page document developed by the Ministry of Health when approved by Cabinet would provide intervention to improve awareness and understanding of AMR, strengthen knowledge and evidence base for AMR policy related actions and reduce incidence of infection.

Dr Henk Jan Ormel, Senior Policy Advisor to the Chief Veterinary Officer, FAO said the FAO was providing technical assistance to help countries develop their national action plans, and strengthen their health and surveillance systems so as to be able to prevent and manage antimicrobial resistance.

Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture (Crops) said Antimicrobial resistance was putting the gains of the Millennium Development Goals at risk and endangering achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

He said the Ministry was collaborating with partners to carry out surveillance on the use of antimicrobial and to develop new responses to this global threat.

A World Health Organisation Country Representation called on member states to develop policies and action plans to strengthen collaboration in the context of one health and commended Ghana for the great strides in moving the agenda forward.

A global action plan on antimicrobial resistance was adopted by Member States at the 68 World Health Assembly held in Rome and supported by the governing bodies of FAO and World Organisation for Animal Health in May and June.

GNA