Dhaka: Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has urged the public to reduce the frequent use of antibiotics in the human body, warning of the detrimental effects it has on beneficial bacteria and the environment. “Huge use of antibiotics to kill bacteria in the human body is destroying the beneficial bacteria in our body. Even more frightening fact is that the antibiotics we are consuming are returning to the environment. Nobody is thinking about it, but we have to fix up this issue,” she stated during a seminar held in observance of ‘World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week-2024′ at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Farida Akhter emphasized the urgency of addressing antimicrobial resistance despite the delay in raising awareness. She noted the critical need for understanding the issue and taking responsibility to resolve it. “There is still a gap in understanding the issue of antimicrobial resistance. Now is the time to take responsibility as it is ver
y important to know what works need to be done to solve this problem,” she added.
The adviser highlighted that while life expectancy has increased, it does not necessarily equate to improved health. She stressed the importance of living well without over-reliance on medication, noting the financial and health burdens caused by antibiotic resistance. “We should not depend on medicine for well-being but we have to live well without medicine. Many people are still using antibiotics only when they are sick. Due to antibiotic resistance, the costs of people and the state are increasing and people are getting sicker,” she remarked.
The seminar, chaired by Director-General of Department of Livestock Services (DLS) Dr. Md Reajul Huq, also featured contributions from Fisheries and Livestock Additional Secretary ATM Mustafa Kamal, Director General of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Dr. Shakila Faruque, Additional Director General of Department of Fisheries Md. Abdur Rauf, and Chief of Party of Bangladesh Syst
ems Strengthening for One Health Nitish Debnath.
Speakers at the event highlighted the need for promoting good farm practices, ensuring proper antibiotic use in animal production and treatment, and raising farmer awareness about antibiotics’ withdrawal periods. They stressed the importance of accurate antibiotic selection, dosage, usage, and administration during prescription, suggesting that antibiotics should be selected based on microbial sensibility and alternative options should be considered when possible.