KARACHI – The provincial Health Department is in the process of adopting a multi-pronged approach to counter the growing threat of drug resistance in hospital settings as well as among the people exposed to irrational medication, said Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed.
He said this while addressing the participants of a health walk arranged on Thursday by the Health Department to observe the World Health Day 2011.
Ahmed said the current year’s health day theme ‘Combat Antimicrobial Resistance: No Action Today, No Cure Tomorrow,’ held extreme relevance in developing countries including Pakistan.
“The developing world has to strive against the threat of antimicrobial resistance as it is not only an additional burden in terms of finances, but also a constant threat to public health,” said the health minister.
Ahmed said that in his capacity as the health department head, close coordination is being developed with national and international agencies working for infection control. “It is extremely crucial to raise public awareness among the masses as well as healthcare providers to prevent ailments and complications,” he added.
Expressing satisfaction on the participation of doctors and other medical staff associated with different programmes managed by the department for prevention and control of ailments such as Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Hepatitis Control, Tuberculosis Control, Mother and Child Health, Malaria Control, AIDS Control Programme, etc, the health minister also thanked the paramedics, nurses and lady health workers (LHWs) for their participation in the walk as it would send a positive message that the Health Department is committed towards ‘Healthy Pakistan.’
He particularly thanked the LHWs for discontinuing their protest and joining the ongoing polio eradication campaign in the province.
“Banners carried by the participants and a carnival cum awareness ambience created through the walk will definitely make people from all social backgrounds realise their contribution towards their own health,” said Ahmed.
Talking to the media, the minister acknowledged that the people were not being provided the best of facilities while visiting the government healthcare facilities. “We are trying to do our utmost with equal attention towards prevention and control of ailments and infections,” he added.
In reply to a question, Ahmed said that infection control units are being established in all government hospitals in the province with special emphasis on sensitising doctors and paramedics to ensure prevention of infections.
In answer to another question, the minister said refresher courses and special sessions are also being organised in every hospital to update and sensitise doctors on the issue of drug resistance and how to address the issue.
“I hope that professional bodies working for infection control would take the initiative and take the entire medical community on board against the threat of microbial resistance,” he said.
Talking with the media, Sindh Health Secretary Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi said that programmes chalked out by the Health Department to mark the World Health Day 2011 have provided an opportunity to focus on the key public health issues that affect masses without any distinction.
He said the play ‘Antibiotic Ki Kahani’ – scheduled with the support of Datak Group of Theater – will make people understand as how the misuse of something extremely beneficial could turn into a threat.
Antimicrobial resistance may be a natural phenomenon but is aggravated by the widespread use, overuse and misuse of medicines, he said, adding that its implications are manifested through the spread of resistant infections in healthcare and agriculture sectors.
The Health secretary said the dilemma was not restricted to any single country but since the world is fast turning into a global village with frequent travelling and migration, chances for widespread spread of these organisms ware also increasing.
Additional Health Secretary Dr Jamal, Special Secretary Health Dr Suresh Kumar, EDO Health Dr Nasir Javed, Programme Mangers Dr Qamar Abbas and Dr Mazhar Khmisani among others also participated in the walk.
