Expert Cautions People Against Antimicrobials Abuse
Dr. Ibrahim Maigari, Infectious Disease Physician, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBUTH) Bauchi fielding questions on misuse of Antimicrobial Agents. Photo: Murtala Muhammad
By Murtala Muhammad
An Infectious Disease Physician with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital ATBUTH Bauchi, Dr Ibrahim Maigari advocates a legislation that will guard the use of Antimicrobial agents to prevent its resistance on humans and animals bodies.
Antimicrobials are drugs that are used in treatment of viruses, bacteria, parasites among other infectious diseases.
Dr Maigari who made the call while delivering a lecture as part of activities to mark this year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, held at the hospital’s multipurpose auditorium, said the act if not checked can lead to resistance.
He said the call was necessary in view of continuous misuse of the antimicrobial agents through self-medication by humans and dispensing of such medicines over the counter by Pharmacy and Patent Medicine Stores, .
According to the medical expert, Antimicrobials were also used in fish farming to enhance their growth and development, cautioning people to desist from that.
Dr Ibrahim Maigari who admitted that some health workers do operate Pharmacy and Patent Medicine Stores and do not strictly adhere to the rule of practice said addressing the issue was in the hands of regulatory bodies such as Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and all other stakeholders.
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is being observed annually from 18th to 24th November.
The theme for this year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together”.
