The press release by the WHO on November 16, 2015, shows the result of a survey carried out by the WHO to increase its war against antibiotic resistance. The survey that involves 12 countries, two from each region of the world shows people are bewildered about this major threat to public health and do not comprehend how to stop it from growing.
According to Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General “The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, and governments now recognize it as one of the greatest challenges for public health today. It is reaching dangerously high levels in all parts of the world,” in launching the survey findings today. “Antibiotic resistance is compromising our ability to treat infectious diseases and undermining many advances in medicine.”
On the same note Dr Keiji Fukuda, Special Representative of the Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance stated that there is a need for behavioural change by persons and society.
In the survey the high level of ignorance of the people was revealed, for example, about 64% of respondents think antibiotics can be used to take care of colds and flu.This is contrary to the fact that antibiotics have no impact on viruses, hence no effect on the flu. Also, about one-third (32%) of the group surveyed think they should stop the use of antibiotics when they feel better, rather than completing the prescribed dose. This should a big concern to every person and every health authorities in the world. 12 Countries were involved in the survey, the result from Nigeria as shown below is a summary of the findings from the west African country.
The result from Nigeria (664 face-to-face interviews)
“Almost three-quarters (73%) of respondents report taking antibiotics within the past 6 months; 75% of respondents state they were prescribed or provided by a doctor or nurse; 5% say they bought them from a stall or hawker.
More respondents in Nigeria than any other country included in the survey correctly identify that antibiotics do not work for colds and flu (47%). However, 44% of respondents think they do.
Only 38% of respondents have heard of the term ‘antibiotic resistance’—the second lowest proportion of all the countries surveyed”.
The fact that 73% of respondents took antibiotics within 6 months before the survey shows over prescription of antibiotics by our health practitioners and poor regulations of the drugs of prescription in Nigeria.
The results from other countries also in agreement with the fact that there is a dearth of knowledge about antibiotics resistance and the best way to use it. Save the world #handleantibioticswithcare
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