DHAKA, Feb 19, 2024 (BSS) - Livestock and Fisheries Minister Md Abdur Rahman

laid emphasis on optimum use of antimicrobial medicines to prevent and treat
infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants.

"Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the top public health
problem . . . we have to ensure proper use of antimicrobial medicines to
fight against different diseases," he told a workshop here, an official
release said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) organized the workshop styled "Proper use
of antibiotic for prevention of Antimicrobial Resistance".
 
Rahman said Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and
parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines.
 
As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines
become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat,
increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death,
he added.

The minister said, "Antimicrobial medicines are equally important for both
human and animal health. So, it is urgent to identify its effect and ensure
proper use to save animal kingdoms from different infectious diseases."

He urged relevant organizations to take measures so that registered doctors
and Veterinarians would be allowed to prescribe antibiotics medicines to
treat different infectious diseases.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
is one of the top global public health and development threats. It is
estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global
deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.

The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants are
the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens, the WHO said
adding AMR puts many of the gains of modern medicine at risk.