Dr Ameji Negedu, the Head of Department Veterinary Medicine,
University of Jos, attributes poor legislation on the use of antibiotics in animals as one of the contributory factor to antibiotics resistance in animals in Nigeria.Negedu, said this on Saturday in Jos, at the 2023 World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness week, with the theme entitled ” Preventing AMR together,” in which Veterinary medicine students of the University of Jos, were enlightened on the ills of antibiotics abuse and misuse.
According to him, the legislation of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in animals would help stem the rise in antibiotics resistance in animals which in turn affects humans who ate their products.
He lamented that most livestock farmers administered antibiotics without any prescription or laboratory confirmation which breeds resistance.
Negedu, urged veterinarians, to create awareness on the danger, the misuse of antibiotics posses to both animals and humans.
He also appealed for the legislation of the use of antibiotics in animals with strong policies to help stem the rise which If not quickly addressed served as a health threat to both animals and humans.
Similarly, Dr Steve Dowoh, the state coordinator, from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Safety, Plateau State Green House, attributed the rise in antimicrobial (drug)resistance in animals, to its use without prescription from a professional.
Dowoh, said the essence of the training for the students, is to make them know the importance of using antimicrobials (drugs ) responsibly to avoid breeding resistance.
He said it also to increase the awareness on antimicrobials and to encourage best practices.
He further said that antimicrobials resistance played a vital role in re- emerging zoontic diseases which also affects humans.
Earlier, Dr Ibrahim Sini, an epidemiology officer, from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Safety, who was the resource person at the training, called on livestock farmers to ensure they vaccinated their livestock as it served as a preventive measure to most of the diseases.
Sini, further called on livestock farmers to ensure they adhere to the drug withdrawal period .
He explained that when animals were administered antimicrobial (drugs) there is a withdrawal period in which humans aren’t meant to consume their products, till the withdrawal period elapsed.
He, however said, that most livestock farmers, failed to adhere to this and when such animal produce are consumed before the elapse of the withdrawal period, it contained traces of the antibiotics which then builds resistance in humans who consume the products.
” The failure to adhere to the withdrawal period breeds resistance, as the animal produce consumed has traces of the antibiotics.
” This then builds antibiotics resistance in the individual who consumed the produce., ” he said.
Mr Eze Samuel, a participant of the training, said the training was very apt and highly educating, as he had learnt the importance of administering drugs responsibly to avoid resistance.
NAN, reports that the event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with other developmental partners in the health sector. NAN
