The Kwara State Government has urged the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to intensify its campaign against drug abuse in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Kwara State, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, made the call at the weekend, while receiving the state leadership of PSN who paid her a courtesy call in her office.
She particularly charged them to step up the campaign in order to stem the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
According to a statement from the ministry, El-Imam emphasised that antimicrobial resistance occurs when infections become more complicated to treat, “as microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve, becoming resistant to drugs and developing the ability to survive treatments that once killed.”
The commissioner, while describing AMR as one of the top global public health threats facing humanity, advised the PSN to intensify fights against the abuse of drugs, as well as get rid of fake and expired medications in Kwara State..
On his part, the Chairman of the Kwara State Chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, who led the team for a visitation, Pharm Abdulmalik Mohammed, gave kudos to the state government for its efforts to provide drugs and other necessities across facilities in the state, while assuring the Society’s readiness to support its efforts at ensuring delivery of quality healthcare.