Antimicrobial Resistance: Experts Warn Against Self-medication

Health experts have raised alarm over the misuse of antimicrobial drugs, particularly through self-medication, warning that it fuels antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Speaking at a training and capacity-building session for journalists and community-based organisations (CBOs) on AMR advocacy and media reporting in Lagos, the experts emphasised the urgent need for responsible antimicrobial use.

The event was organised under the Fleming Fund Country Grant Phase 2, a project supported by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and implemented by Management Sciences for Health (MSH).

Antimicrobials, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, are essential for treating infections in humans, animals, and plants. However, AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist these drugs, making infections harder and sometimes impossible to treat.

A Consultant Clinical Microbiologist at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Dr. Mary Alex-Wale, expressed concern over Nigeria’s high AMR-related mortality rate, ranking 19th out of 204 nations surveyed.

Globally, AMR is linked to 4.95 million deaths annually, with 1.27 million directly caused by drug-resistant infections. “If this trend continues, we could see up to 10 million deaths per year by 2050,” Dr. Alex-Wale warned.

In Nigeria, AMR is responsible for approximately 263,400 deaths annually, with 64,500 directly linked to drug-resistant infections. Beyond the human toll, AMR is projected to cause economic losses of up to $100 trillion globally, with Nigeria facing a potential 3.8% GDP decline and severe disruptions in livestock production.

Dr. Alex-Wale stressed the need for stronger policies, increased research funding, and widespread public awareness campaigns. “Without immediate action, we are heading toward a post-antibiotic era where common infections become untreatable, reversing decades of medical progress,” she cautioned.

She advocated for the One Health approach, which integrates human health, food production, environmental sustainability, and animal health in the fight against AMR.