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FG Launches the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector
FG Launches the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has intensified the fight against antimicrobial resistance, which is estimated to lead to a global US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030, with the launch of the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector on Thursday
Speaking at the Launch in Abuja, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako noted that a lot still needs to be done for the environment sector to come up to speed and be at par with other One Health sectors with regards to AMR management. He said: “It is in this context and in line with the mandate of the ministry that this policy on national antimicrobial resistance for the environment sector has been developed.”
The Minister said: “You will agree with me that antibiotics play a critical role in reducing the burden of communicable disease all over the world. However, resistance to previously potent antibiotics has become a major problem of major public health significance requiring a range of interventions and multidisciplinary approach. This growing trend of resistance to antibiotics calls for global action to monitor and control unnecessary use of antibiotics in humans and animals which eventually gets to the environment.”
Salako added that: “Antimicrobial resistance is not only a public health threats, it has huge implications for global economic wellbeing and security, affecting both developed and developing countries. AMR is listed by the World Health Organization as one of the ten top threats to global health. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), AMR is a global crisis that cannot be understood or addressed separately from the triple planetary crisis.”
He noted that: “The report of the 2022 Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) report highlights alarming resistance rates among bacterial pathogens that causes the deadliest infections with other pathogens like virus, fungi and protozoa also becoming resistant. This report shows that AMR threat is growing at an alarming rate making treatment challenging with longer hospital stays, increased mortality and higher healthcare cost. The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030.”
The Minister said: “Nigeria as a responsible member of the global community is committed to adopting a holistic approach to addressing AMR to ensuring all of sector involvement, no duplication and efficient use of scarce resources. To achieve this, and protect public health, food security and the environment, the recognition of the interconnectedness between human, animal and environmental health in line with the One Health principles is central.”
Salako noted that: “In this regard, the Federal Ministry of Environment has embarked on a number activities aimed at laying a solid foundation for AMR surveillance in the environment sector of our country. This includes: AMR situation analysis in environment sector conducted in 2020 including laboratory and capacity needs assessment of environmental reference laboratories domicile with NESREA to pave way for setting up AMR surveillance in the environment sector and provide recommendations for strengthening capacities for AMR surveillance within the sector.
“Establishment of the Integrated National Environmental Health Surveillance System (INEHSS) in 2022 for real time environmental health and sanitation scientific data collection and processing for informed policy decisions, planning, monitoring, evaluation, early warning signals and response to environmental health challenges including disease outbreak. The INEHSS provides a premise for AMR surveillance in the environment considering the unsound release of antimicrobial residues in our environment.”
He revealed that with collaboration with other stakeholders, the Federal Ministry of Environment intends to create AMR surveillance system in the environment sector by integrating AMR into INEHSS which is an existing surveillance system in the environment sector, in order to provide timely alerts on AMR spread; regulate the discharge and distribution of antimicrobials into the environment; promote public knowledge and awareness on AMR and implication of indiscriminate Antimicrobial Discharge (AMD) into the environment; establish national standards for monitoring and controlling antimicrobials in the environment through the development of
roadmap for monitoring AMR in the environment, standards for Antimicrobial residue, Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARG) and Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria (ARB) discharge into the environment
He said this includes database of all allied industries, institutes, healthcare facilities and farms in Nigeria and most importantly strengthening of Environmental Health Officers’ capacity to track the activities of the culpable facilities.
On his part, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Representative Ad-Interim in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Koffy Kouacou Dominique said: “The antimicrobial resistance scourge affects humans, animals, plants, and the environment. It is estimated that 10 million people would die annually by the year 2050, and the economies of nations negatively affected if this challenge is not mitigated.”
He insisted that: “It is therefore important for countries to put in place actions that will reduce and control this scourge.”
Dominique added that: “Antimicrobial resistance which is a One Health issue needs to be tackled by all sectors. It is for this reason that the FAO in 2022 supported the Federal Ministry of Environment to develop the National AMR Policy and the National Strategic Plan (2023 – 2027). This support was also to assist in enhancing the capacity and capabilities of the environment sector to participate actively in development and implementation of multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary AMR control plans at the national and subnational levels.”
FG Launches the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Policy for Environment Sector
News
Military Air precision bombardment neutralises over 50 terrorists after attack on Ngoshe in Borno
Military Air precision bombardment neutralises over 50 terrorists after attack on Ngoshe in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai has neutralised over 50 suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists following precision air strikes on their withdrawal routes after a failed attack on Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the officer said the terrorists had, at about 7:30 p.m. on March 3, launched a coordinated assault on artillery positions in Ngoshe, a community located about 12 kilometres from Pulka and 31 kilometres from Gwoza town.
“The insurgents attempted to overrun the artillery positions in a surprise evening attack. Troops on ground responded effectively but conducted a tactical withdrawal under intense fire to preserve personnel and equipment while reinforcements were being mobilised,” he said.
The sources explained that the insurgents had adopted a hit-and-withdraw tactic, abandoning the scene before reinforcement troops fully secured the area.
The sources added that additional troops were immediately deployed, while surveillance platforms tracked the fleeing terrorists along identified withdrawal corridors.
“Upon receipt of real-time intelligence from ground troops, the surveillance aircraft were scrambled to engage the terrorists on their egress routes. The terrorists were sighted moving in clusters in both locations.
“Precision bombardment was conducted on confirmed target clusters and movement trails. Battle Damage Assessment indicates that over 50 terrorists were neutralised in two separate strike runs,” the officer said.
“The air-ground synergy under Operation Hadin Kai ensured that although the terrorists attempted to escape into forested enclaves, they were decisively engaged from the air.
“The strikes also disrupted their logistics and mobility capability within the Ngoshe–Pulka corridor,” he said.
The sources further stated that clearance and area domination operations were ongoing to forestall any regrouping attempts by the insurgents.
He noted that the Ngoshe–Gwoza axis remains a historically volatile corridor due to intermittent activities of Boko Haram and ISWAP remnants exploiting difficult terrain and proximity to cross-border forest zones.
“Operation Hadin Kai remains resolute in sustaining offensive pressure. The message is clear any attempt to attack our positions will attract overwhelming and coordinated firepower,” he said.
He assured residents of Gwoza and surrounding communities of the military’s commitment to protecting lives, supporting resettlement efforts, and consolidating gains recorded in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaign in Borno.
Military Air precision bombardment neutralises over 50 terrorists after attack on Ngoshe in Borno
Two arrested over alleged child trafficking in Cross River
By; Zagazola Makama
Two suspected child traffickers have been arrested by the Police in Oboho Ito community, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River, following a foiled attempt to allegedly sell a one-month-old baby.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects were apprehended on March 2 after youths of the community intercepted them based on a tip-off.
According to the source, the mother of the baby, Favour Effiong, reported that on March 1, one Happiness Etim Udoh, allegedly persuaded her to bring her one-month-old child under the pretext of taking her to receive financial assistance for the upkeep of the baby.
“On suspicion, the mother informed her landlord, and community youths laid ambush for the suspect,” the source said.
Udoh was subsequently arrested alongside an alleged accomplice, Ekpo Inyang, said to have no fixed address.
Police say preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly planned to snatch and sell the baby to a woman in Abuja.
The source further disclosed that during interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to previously selling a child for N200,000 to a buyer in Abuja.
It was also alleged that arrangements had been made to hand over the one-month-old baby to a relative of one of the suspects in Abuja, who was reportedly pretending to be pregnant.
The baby was safely recovered and handed back to the mother.
Police said investigation into the matter had commenced, while efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected trafficking network.
They reiterated commitment to tackling child trafficking and protecting vulnerable children across the state.
Two arrested over alleged child trafficking in Cross River
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI repel ISWAP attack in Damasak, three residents shot
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI, in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)/Hunters Group, successfully repelled an attack by suspected ISWAP terrorists in Damasak town, Nganzai Local Government Area.
According to sources, the assailants invaded the town around 10:30 p.m., opening sporadic gunfire that sent residents fleeing in panic.
“Three civilians, Goni Dauda, 25, of Zanna Umarti Ward; Modu Ya’asham, 32, of Gajiram Town; and Asinamai David, 25, of Bula Kara, Gubio Town, were fatally hit by stray bullets, while Kellu Bukar, 40, an IDP camp resident, sustained a chest wound and is currently receiving treatment at General Hospital Damasak.
The troops stormed the scene and engaged the terrorists in a heavy gun battle forcing them to flee with bullets wounds.
The troops later visited the scene and evacuated the victims.
The corpses of Goni Dauda and Modu Ya’asham were released to their families for burial according to Islamic rites, while Asinamai David was buried according to Christian rites.
Security forces confirmed that normalcy has returned to the town, and monitoring continues to prevent further incidents.
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI repel ISWAP attack in Damasak, three residents shot
Military Air precision bombardment neutralises over 50 terrorists after attack on Ngoshe in Borno
Police foil abduction in Kano, one killed
Two arrested over alleged child trafficking in Cross River
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