Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Sounds Alarm on Drug Resistance Impacting Food Systems and Health
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which it describes as a significant global development challenge.
Speaking at a side event during the 79th United Nations General Assembly, NCDC Director-General Jide Idris warned that AMR poses threats not only to health but also to food systems, economic stability, and national security. He emphasized that unchecked AMR could drive millions into extreme poverty and reverse decades of medical progress, resulting in millions of deaths annually.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that if no effective measures are taken, AMR could result in as many as 10 million deaths per year by 2050. Given Nigeria’s projected population of over 400 million by that year, successfully combating AMR is crucial for mitigating its severe consequences.
Idris explained that the factors driving antimicrobial resistance (AMR) the misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals, lack of access to clean water, and inadequate infection control measures as he stressed that addressing AMR requires collaboration across various sectors, including health, agriculture, and the environment.
The NCDC has developed a National Action Plan on AMR, reflecting Nigeria’s commitment to integrating AMR interventions into broader health strategies. As This plan includes modernizing healthcare facilities to improve AMR surveillance and treatment capabilities, enhancing laboratory capacity for monitoring resistance patterns, and achieving universal health coverage. Idris further noted that expanding access to quality healthcare is vital for reducing inappropriate antibiotic use and ensuring timely interventions for infections, ultimately strengthening Nigeria’s defenses against antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
