Kathmandu: Three government ministers have called for the proper use of antibiotics. Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Paudel, Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari have urged for the appropriate use of antibiotics.
They made this collective call on the occasion of the World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 which commenced today, November 18. The ministers underlined the need for increased awareness and advocacy for antimicrobial resistance.
There is an opportunity for Nepal to prove accountability and fulfill its commitments that it made during the two high-level sessions this year: the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the 77th World Health Assembly regarding antimicrobial resistance and in this context, the Week is particularly significant for Nepal, they said in the message.
In developing countries like Nepal where the role of antibiotics is significant in the treatment of contagious and communicable diseases among humans, livestock, and plants, the global rise in antimicrobial resistance has led to the diminished effectiveness of antibiotics and thus more challenges in treatment of contagious diseases, they said in the message.
According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance currently results in around 1.2 million deaths annually worldwide and it is estimated to surge to 5 million by 2050. By 2030, the economic burden due to this could reach up to 34 billion US dollars.
This is likely to hinder the progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This year, the theme for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 is “Educate. Advocate. Act now.”
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