The Sunyani Teaching Hospital has launched this year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, with a call on Clinicians to properly diagnose and give patients the right treatment and Pharmaceutical Services.
Patients are also enjoined to ensure they complete the full course of antibiotics prescribed at the hospital.
The Bono Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist and Epidemiologist, Dr George Khumalo Kuma, who made the call, said without a drastic improvement in the correct use of Antimicrobials, 10 million people will be dying through antimicrobial risk by 2050.
The launch of this year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week at the Sunyani Teaching Hospital was on the theme “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance, together”.
It was to create awareness of the emergence and increased spread of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) for remedial action by stakeholders in health, policymakers and individuals.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics, used to treat bacterial infections among humans and animals, and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
Antimicrobial Awareness Week is thus an annual global celebration from November 18 to the 24th.
Head of the Surveillance Technical Working Group of the Ministry of Health, Professor Japheth Opintan, said preventing Antimicrobial Resistance requires the collaborative effort of all stakeholders.
The Bono Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist & Epidemiologist, Dr George Khumalo Kuma, urged Ghanaians to get a proper diagnosis when sick and complete their medication. He also urged Clinicians to properly diagnose and prescribe the right treatment to their patients.
He said Antimicrobial Resistance if not checked, could lead to the death of about 10 million people by 2050.
The CEO of the Sunyani Teaching Hospital, Dr. Cardinal Newton, encouraged clinicians and community leaders to help in the fight.