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Dr. Corey Forde, Consultant Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

Action Plan near completion

Barbados has made significant progress with the National Plan to combat Antimicrobial Resistance.

In fact, according to Dr. Corey Forde, the country is way ahead in terms of its completion.

The Consultant Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) shared this with members of the media on the side-lines of the Ministry of Health Workshop for Completion of National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, held at the Pan-American Health Organisation, yesterday. “During the next two days, we expect to complete that National Action Plan,” he disclosed.

Antimicrobial resistance happens when microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites) change when they are exposed to antimicrobial drugs (such as
antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics). Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”. As a result, the medicines become ineffective andinfections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others.

“An Antimicrobial Resistance is something that has been a concern throughout the whole world. It’s been taken up by the World Health Organisation in more recent times, in which countries all over the world have been asked to develop national action plans… Barbados has been far ahead of the game with regards to this particular aspect”.

He said that participants of the workshop were not only from the Ministry of Health, but included representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, the Veterinary Sector, Royal Barbados Police Force and Customs.

“One of the concerns with regards to Antimicrobial Resistance is that it spans a problem that is not only going to affect humans, but also the animal population… It also impacts our own economic status as well. The more Antimicrobial Resistance we have, the more we will spend on antibiotics and of course that can impact the economy,”he pointed out.

“I think most of the times when persons have a cold, they go to the doctor and expect to be given an antibiotic and I think that is where the problem is…. When a person has a cough it maybe viral; it may not require antibiotic and I think misuse of antibiotics is really what got us in the world to this particular point. I think every individual Barbados can play their part. I think every individual farmer who uses antibiotics as well can play their part – don’t go to the pharmacy and ask for antibiotics because you want your animals to grow bigger and faster”.

Dr. Godfrey Xuereb, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, said that his organisation in the past decade has been working with all its Member States on the increased burden of morbidity and mortality attributed to Antimicrobial Resistance, both in communities and the health settings.

In May 2015, the WHO adopted a Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, which has five key objectives – four of which include improving awareness and understanding through effective education; strengthening the knowledge and evidence base through surveillance and research; reducing the incidence of infection through effective infection prevention measures and optimising the use of antimicrobial medicines.

Member States, such as Barbados, are expected to develop their own National Action plans on Antimicrobial Resistance in line with the global plan by May 2017 and to participate in global monitoring and reporting on this important issue. Barbados made such a start in October 2015. (TL)

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