The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has called for urgent measures, including stricter regulations and stronger community engagement, to curb the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country.
The Head of Disease Prevention and Control at NCDC, Dr Tochi Okwor made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the Commonwealth Partnership for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) Programme Sharing and Learning Event.
She also spoke at the Africa Leadership-AMS Fellowship Graduation.
Okwor emphasised the importance of ensuring patients receive the right antibiotics at the correct dose to prevent resistance.
“It is critical in our AMR journey that patients receive the best quality of care and the right antibiotics.
“One major challenge identified in Nigeria’s fight against AMR is the indiscriminate sale of antibiotics, especially by patent medicine vendors in communities.
“Many Nigerians bypass hospitals and obtain antibiotics without prescriptions, worsening the resistance crisis,” Okwor explained.
While regulatory measures existed, she acknowledged that enforcement remained complex due to behavioural factors and healthcare access barriers.
“We are working through a multi-sectoral, participatory approach to understand why people prefer patent medicine vendors over hospitals.
“We are bringing in social scientists to study these behaviours and develop context-specific solutions,” she added.
Okwor reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the One Health approach, a globally recognised strategy that involves collaboration between the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Environment, and regulatory agencies like National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“Nigeria has been acknowledged as a strong example of the One Health model in AMR response,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to take responsibility in the fight against AMR by avoiding self-medication, seeking proper medical advice, supporting enforcement efforts to regulate antibiotic sales, and educating themselves on the dangers of antibiotic misuse.
With AMR presenting a serious public health threat, Okwor urged all stakeholders, including the government, healthcare providers, and the public, to collaborate in addressing the issue.
She emphasised the need for responsible antibiotic use and stronger regulations to safeguard the future of healthcare in Nigeria.
NAN
