Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Sessions Organized
Awareness Sessions for Veterinary Students and Professionals on Antimicrobial Resistance by Fleming Fund | اینٹی مائیکروبئل ریزسٹنس کے حوالے سے سیشنز کا انعقاد
صوبائی تشخیصی لیبارٹری میں اینٹی مائیکروبیل ریزسٹنس لیب کا افتتاح
DAI and Health Security Partners, a partner of Fleming Fund Country Grant Pakistan, in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the provincial departments of Livestock, organized Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness sessions for veterinary professionals and veterinary students from various veterinary educational institutions.
These sessions were attended by professionals from the Livestock Departments of Balochistan and Sindh as well as veterinary students from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Narowal, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Jhang, University of Agriculture Faisalabad and Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi.
Responsible Use of Antibiotics
The sessions were aimed at educating veterinary professionals and veterinary students about the use of antibiotics and other drugs in animals, antimicrobial resistance, important animal diseases that are spreading from one country to another, and their health and care.
AMR as Growing Global Health Challenge
Speaking at the seminars, Surveillance Lead Health Security Partners Dr. Usman Zaheer said that antimicrobial resistance is an emerging global health problem in which the effect of antibiotics and other drugs on the human body is gradually eroding. He said that along with the excessive and irrational use of antibiotics and other drugs in humans, the indiscriminate and excessive use of antibiotics in animals whose meat and milk are consumed by humans also leads to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics and other drugs in the human body.
On the other hand, with indiscriminate use, these drugs also stop working on these animals and as a result, large doses of drugs have to be administered, the effect of which is transmitted to humans through milk and meat.
He said that a major challenge in dealing with this issue is the lack of awareness and knowledge among veterinary professionals.
He said that the use of antibiotics and other drugs in animals is directly related to veterinary professionals. Therefore, it is necessary to educate veterinary professionals and veterinary students about antimicrobial resistance and the use of antimicrobials.
He stressed that effective awareness and sensitivity among veterinary professionals is essential to rationalize the use of antibiotics and other drugs.
Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Emphasized Rational Use of Antibiotics in Food Animals
Assistant Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Riyat Wazee Ullah stressed on the need for awareness among veterinary field staff regarding the rational use of antibiotics and other drugs in view of antimicrobial resistance in food animal production. He thanked the provincial departments of livestock and veterinary educational institutions as well as the Fleming Fund Country Grant Pakistan for their technical assistance on this important topic.
Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Covered Disease Control and Biosecurity
Dr. Javeria Alam presented an overview of antimicrobial resistance, use of antimicrobials, control of animal diseases spreading from one country to another, antimicrobial agents, their classes, their history and importance.
She also discussed the mechanisms of development of antimicrobial resistance, the importance of biosecurity and the use of laboratories in rationalizing the use of antibiotics and other drugs.
She said that since veterinarians play an important role in the treatment of animals and farmers are the first to contact them in case of disease, the role of veterinarians is very important in the correct diagnosis and selection of the right treatment to control diseases as well as antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Supports National and Global Action Plans
Dr. Samiullah Khan Bahadur, Technical Coordinator, Health Security Partners, briefed the participants about the role of the Office of the Animal Husbandry Commissioner in the field of animal health.
He said that the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, being the delegate of the World Organization for Animal Health, is responsible for the implementation of the Global Action Plan and the National Action Plan at the global level.
He said that the Ministry of National Food Security and Research is committed to continuing activities regarding antimicrobial resistance in the country.
At the end of the sessions, Dr. Usman Zaheer thanked the officials of the relevant institutions for their cooperation and support.
