Dear Neil and friends,
AMR (antimicrobial resistance) seems to become a serious problem of health worldwide. In an ordinary article of TEA-Kenya it is reported that "more than 659,000 children in Africa died in 2022 from infections linked to AMR", these being the findings unveiled at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology". The study emphasises the need for a coordinated "One Health" approach that integrates human, animal and environmental health in tracking resistance. [*see note below]
I'd like to raise this issue in our community of HIFA, what do we say about this study? Or about AMR in our countries? Is there anything that we could do to contain this dangerous trend? I write here with confidence that "overprescription of drugs, antibiotics included, is common in poor/low income countries, and increases day by day as long as privatisation of health care". I've worked in 6 African countries plus Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and India: the same do happen everywhere, drugs are over-prescribed and sold liberally, without medical or political control. Poor pay much$.
Rich countries are 'affected' as well by overprescription of drugs, pharmaceutical companies do 'their best' to convince people to buy and ingest drugs before dying.
Greetings from Dodoma
Massimo Serventi
HIFA profile: Massimo Serventi is a long-standing Pediatrician working in Africa since 1982. He has worked for several NGOs in 6 African/2 Asian countries. His interests include clinical and community pediatrics, adherence to clinical guidelines and school education as the major determinant of good health. massimoser20 AT gmail.com
[*Note from HIFA moderator (NPW): The news article in The East African is available here: https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/sustainability/health/650-000-afric... The study was presented at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) conference on 12 April. I was unable to locate the published paper, which may still be in press. The study states that '3+ million children worldwide lost their lives in 2022 due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related infections' according to the Clinton Health Access Initiative https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/news/over-3-million-children-died-fr... This seems an extraordinary number given that the *total* number of children who died in 2022 is 4.9 million. Would anyone like to comment?]