The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) together with partners has urged journalists to help educate communities to understand the threat posed by misuse of over-the-counter anti-biotics they administer for ailments in their homes.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019, contributing to a total of 4.95 million deaths.
These revelations emerged during a journalists’ training on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) that seeks to promote strategies for responsible antimicrobial use where participants were encouraged to develop actionable interventions while promoting preventive measures that can mitigate related risks.
Speaking during the event that brought on board journalist from various local media outlets in Uasin Gishu County, Oscar Okumu, the Head of Region (HoR), for Red Cross in North Rift, said research on AMR had been conducted for the past 20 years, noting the need for media to join the AMR conversation globally by reaching out to communities.
“Partnership is key to sensitise the communities. Media can highlight innovative ideas to ensure communities are aware to effectively stem the tide of AMR plague. Media is key to joining the conversation globally,” he noted.
Dr Paul Olale, AMR with one health approach project Officer, affirmed that the misuse of anti-biotics threatens the effectiveness of common treatments and if left unaddressed, “we risk entering an era where common infections might become untreatable, and routine medical procedures could carry heightened risks”.
He revealed that AMR is a global disaster rated by the WHO as a silent pandemic, which is one of the 10 greatest threats to public health worldwide.
The Project Officer further urged journalists to device the best ways to package the information in a catchy medium including vernacular languages in order to make communities understand the viable ways to curb the pandemic like seeking prescription from certified physicians to curb abuse of medication.
He added that some of the drugs like anti-malarials and others that used to be effective in treating diseases are not working out currently because a lot of resistance has occurred due to misuse over time.
Dr Olale mentioned that the issue requires a multisectoral approach since it cuts across human, animal and environmental health.
He underscored the need to strengthen health care systems with proper diagnosis to ensure evidence-based diagnosis through proper and effective lab diagnosis.
“As the mouthpiece of the communities, we are really key to achieving some level of awareness because AMR begins at the community level,” noted Dr. Olale.
He pointed out that the review on AMR as of May 2016 indicated long hospital stay by patients, higher medical bills, increased mortality, social isolation and high morbidity rate which is sickness due to weakened immunity system due to long stay in hospital that ends up exposing the patient to more infections.
Director Governor’s Press, Mr. Silah Kosgei, echoed Dr Olale’s concerns, underscoring the critical need for collaboration among different agencies.
He reiterated the importance of engaging with farmers, healthcare providers, and the broader community further affirming that sustained cooperation will be essential in pursuing effective antimicrobial stewardship to protect both current and future generations from the devastating effects of Antimicrobial Resistance.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
