The Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, says 10 million deaths may be recorded per year globally from Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) from 2050, if not checked.
He made this disclosure in a paper at the 2nd National Summit in Abuja on Thursday, presented on his behalf by WHO’s Head of Health Technical and Innovation, Mr. Omotayo Hamza.
The theme of the summit was: ‘Antimicrobial resistance; a global health challenge in the fight for sustainable health system.’
According to Dr. Alemu, most of the deaths would be recorded in Africa and Asia, with each continent recording four million deaths out of the estimated 10 million while the rest of the world shares the remaining 2 million.
According to him, surveys conducted in the country indicated that AMR is huge in Nigeria.
The WHO representative noted that ineffective regulations of all aspects of the health services were responsible for AMR, blaming quackery in all health professions for the problem that had resulted to AMR.
READ ALSO: SPORTS FLAKES: WHEN PELE STOPPED BIAFRA WAR
“We have quacks around cities; we have quack doctors, quack medical laboratory scientists and fake pharmacists.
“If there is a wrong diagnosis from lab scientists, the doctor will prescribe wrong medication and the pharmacists dispense wrong drugs,” he said.
AMR occurs when micro organism such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change in ways that render the medications used to cure the infections ineffective.
