DHAKA, Nov 19, 2024 (BSS) – Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today called for not using antibiotics in human body frequently.

"Huge use of antibiotics to kill bacteria in the human body is destroying the beneficial bacteria in our body. Even more frightening fact is that the antibiotics we are consuming are returning to the environment. Nobody is thinking about it, but we have to fix up this issue," she said.

The adviser came up with the call while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on the occasion of the ‘World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week-2024' at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon here, a ministry press release said.

Though it has been too late to raise awareness of the antimicrobial resistance, Farida said that still, every moment is crucial to work on this matter.

"There is still a gap in understanding the issue of antimicrobial resistance. Now is the time to take responsibility as it is very important to know what works need to be done to solve this problem," she added.

People's life expectancy has been increased but it does not mean that people become better in terms of health, she said, adding "We are alive but not well."

"We should not depend on medicine for well-being but we have to live well without medicine. Many people are still using antibiotics only when they are sick. Due to antibiotic resistance, the costs of people and the state are increasing and people are getting sicker," she added. 

With Director-General of Department of Livestock Services (DLS) Dr Md Reajul Huq in the chair, the seminar was addressed, among others, by Fisheries and Livestock Additional Secretary ATM Mustafa Kamal, Director General of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Dr Shakila Faruque, Additional Director General of Department of Fisheries Md Abdur Rauf and Chief of Party of Bangladesh Systems Strengthening for One Health Nitish Debnath as special guests.

Other speakers emphasized on the importance of encouraging the farmers in good farm-practices, ensuring the correct use of antibiotics in animal production and treatment and raising awareness of the farmers about the antibiotics’  withdrawal period.

They also said that accurate antibiotic selection, dosage, usage and administration should be ensured during prescription.

They suggested for selecting antibiotics based on microbial sensibility   and using alternative antibiotics if possible.