US chief of mission calls for antibiotic regulation

Nov 15, 2017

Aceng said that if no efforts are put in place, that global deaths attributable to antimicrobial resistance shall rise to about 10 million annually by the year 2050

Colette Marcellin (centre) with organisers of the conference. Photo by Abdulkarim Ssengendo

The US deputy chief of mission in Uganda, Colette Marcellin, has called for increased vigilance in the antibiotic regulation in rural drug shops to make sure drugs are properly stored, prescribed and administered by trained personnel.

Marcellin also called for active participation from both public authorities and members of the scientific community in order to sustain antimicrobial resistance initiatives.

Marcellin, made the comments on Tuesday while closing the second annual antimicrobial resistance conference held at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara.

She asked the academia to play a pivotal role in research and designing strategies on the correct use of antibiotics in the communities promising them full support from US government.

The conference was organised under the theme; "Antimicrobial Resistance; a call for united action."

The conference attracted health care providers, animal scientists and agriculturalists with the aim of laying down a long-term strategy needed to combat resistance to antimicrobial medications in the country.

In her speech, the health minister, Ruth Aceng, who was represented by Dr Patrick Tusiime, the commissioner in charge of National diseases control said the bulk of Uganda's health problems are infections.

She said HIV, tuberculosis, respiratory tract infections, meningitis, neonatal sepsis and diarrhea account for 8 of the top 10 causes of premature death in our country.

Aceng said that even with even non-communicable conditions such as cancer, trauma and cardiovascular disease; death is often due to infectious complications.

Aceng added that medical interventions such as complicated surgery, intensive care and anticancer chemotherapy that people take for granted would not be possible without effective antimicrobial agent which prevent or treat the infections that would inevitably follow.

She expressed fears that if no efforts are put in place, that global deaths attributable to antimicrobial resistance shall rise from the present 700,000 to about 10 million annually by the year 2050.

The World Bank estimates that by 2050, antimicrobial resistance could lead to decline in animal productions and increase extreme poverty by up to 28 million people.

 

 





 

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