The World Health Organization, WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2023–2027 Nigeria is to be unveiled in a few days.
The Technical Officer, WHO, AMR, Dr Laxmikant Chavan made this known in Akwanga, the Nassarawa state capital, at the 7th Annual Conference of the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ), with the theme, “Health Security: Nigeria’s Efforts to Achieve Universal Health Coverage.
The CCS is expected to set out how the WHO will work with Nigeria over the next five years and It is informed by the aspirations of the Nigeria Health Sector – Strategic Plan 2023–2030.
While speaking on the theme”improving Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) communication,” Dr Chavan described Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as the ability of a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) to change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat thus increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
According to him” As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections become impossible or difficult to treat and spreads.”WHO has declared that AMR is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity.”
Dr Laxmikant Chavan noted that the drivers of AMR include the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, Lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for both humans and animals.
”Poor infection and disease prevention and control in health-care facilities and farms, Poor access to quality, affordable medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics, Lack of awareness and knowledge, and Lack of enforcement of legislation.”
Dr Chavan therefore calls on the media to adopt a holistic approach to campaign for the enforcement of laws and regulations on AMR.
”The media is a cornerstone of the global AMR action plan, Journalists play a crucial role in shaping public perception,” he added.
The President, of ANHEJ, Mr. Joseph Kadiri who expressed concern over the allocation of N1.33 trillion in the 2024 Proposed Budget, recommends the allocation of 15 percent of the annual budget to the health sector.
He said there was a need for the federal government to deploy more funds and fully implement the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), as well as prioritize health security in the face of emerging epidemics and pandemics.
“The 7th Annual Conference of ANHEJ set the stage for critical discussions and collective efforts to address and improve the state of healthcare in Nigeria,” he said.
In a message, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of vaccines in the country.
Professor Adeyeye, who was represented by the Special Adviser, NAFDAC, Mr Nantim Dadi said ANHEJ plays a vital role in educating, empowering, and advocating for the public’s health.
“Their work contributes to a well-informed society that can make healthier choices and actively engage with the healthcare system,” she said.
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