WHO Representative to Vietnam Lokky Wai speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)Hanoi
(VNA) – World Health Organisation () Representative to Vietnam Lokky
Wai has called on Vietnam to undertake more efforts to
combat (AMR).
“The most important factor that contributes to the rise of AMR
is the use of antibiotics in humans and animals. Therefore, the most effective
measure the government can take is to control the use of antibiotics and ensure
they are used appropriately,” Wai said at a meeting to mark Vietnam Antibiotic
Awareness Week 2016 on November 30 in Hanoi.
Wai said the increase of antibiotic production, supply and use
has contributed to the spread of AMR in the environment and food chain due to
the increasing pressure to meet the global food demand of people and international
trade, along with industrialization, urbanisation and expansion of the health
services sector.
“The role of other sectors, such as trade, industry, environment
and natural resources, are therefore important to complement regulatory actions
and closely monitor the spread of AMR in the food chain and environment,” Wai
said.
“The inter-sectoral action undertaken in Vietnamis, therefore, a
step in the right direction and is an excellent example for other countries in
the region. By committing to work together, Vietnam is making a great
contribution to the global fight against AMR,” the WHO representative added.
“Last year, we had 400,000 individuals pledging to help fight
AMR. We will continue to gather more pledges until we reach the one million
mark to demonstrate the public’s support in building a healthy, safe and
progressive Vietnam,” Wai said.
Speaking at the meeting, Luong Ngoc Khue, the health ministry’s
Health Examination and Management Department director, said antimicrobial
resistance is a risk to Vietnam’s people and economy following the increase in
antibiotic use and lax management of antibiotic use in healthcare and animal
husbandry.
Vietnam is in the list of countries with a high AMR rate due to
insufficient awareness on antibiotic and AMR in community and health workers.
Many residents purchase and use antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription or
overuse the latest antibiotics prescribed by doctors. Excessive use of
antibiotics in animal and aquaculture production is also a reason for the
increase of AMR in the country, according to Khue.
The annual week, titled “Together and Stronger against
AMR,” aims to increase awareness of global resistance
and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and
policy makers to avoid further emergence and spread of antibiotic
resistance.
According to WHO, AMR results in some 700,000 global deaths per
year. By 2050, the number of deaths attributed to AMR is estimated to be 10
million per year, more than the estimate for cancer and 10 times more than the
estimate for diabetes.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
