The Tanzania government has cautioned over the growing antimicrobial resistance which has now reached 65 per cent, calling for deliberate efforts to avert the problem.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat, a situation that increases the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
To address the problem the government has directed human health personnel, veterinary experts, environmentalists, institutions and health facilities dispense appropriate dosage and be used whenever necessary.
Speaking on World Antimicrobial Awareness Week which commenced yesterday and lasts to November 24th here yesterday Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health Dk Seif Shekilage said that health experts are responsible for educating the public on proper use of antibiotic and its effects when used inappropriately.
“Inappropriate use of antibiotics causes antimicrobial resistance which has been growing annually… in 1993 the resistance was 39 per cent, in, 2002, (42 per cent), 2014 (67 per cent) and from 2017 to 2022 the problem has grown to 65 per cent,” he said.
A research conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2017 indicated that 92 per cent of patients received medical services from drug outlets of majority of whom used antibiotics without doctor’s prescription.
He said another research conducted in 2018 by the Ministry of Livestock showed that 90 of livestock keepers used antibiotics to treat their animals instead on vaccines.
Dr Shekilage said that all sectors including health, livestock, fisheries, agriculture and environment are responsible for preventing or reducing antibiotic resistance.
“This campaign aims at raising public awareness on proper use of antibiotics in order to reduce wrong uses as efforts to prevent the drugs resistance,” he said.
Tanzania like other developing countries is facing infectious diseases by 95 per cent, this is due to some health personnel who prefer to prescribe medication without getting diagnosis results from the medical labs, the practice which leads to inappropriate use of antibiotics, causing antimicrobial resistance which has been growing annually.
“These statistics are indications that antimicrobial resistance is of great concern thus calling for deliberate efforts to curb the problem,” he said.
What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?
Antimicrobial resistance is the ability of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, or protozoa) to nullify the effects of antimicrobial drugs, resulting in these drugs becoming ineffective1,2 AMR can affect anyone, of any age, in any country.
There is usually a small number of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics
→ When taken, antibiotics kill bacteria causing the illness – but they also kill the good bacteria that protects the body from infection→ The drug-resistant bacteria survive and multiply
→ Eventually, the drug-resistant bacteria becomes dominant and spreads
SOURCE: The Center for Disease Control (CDC)
1. Antimicrobial Resistance Fact Sheet. WHO. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs194/en/
2. About Antimicrobial Resistance. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html
Tanzania Government Concern
Dr Shekilage also said that antimicrobial resistance has become a concern because the nation is losing workforce due to death resulting from diseases which are resistant to drugs.
He said the situation also increases poverty due to long illnesses which require a patient to buy expensive medicines.
The World Bank report of 2017 indicated that the world economy will decline by 3.8 per cent come 2050 and an estimated 3.4 trillion US dollars will be lost by 2030 due to drug resistance.
The report shows that developing countries including Tanzania will be affected more in which 9 billion US dollars will be used annually in fighting the problem.
He directed all people to learn about drug resistance and what can be done to improve their health.
Dr Shekilage directed human health experts, veterinary officers and environmentalists to make sure that they provide proper dosage to patients and to abide by various governments health guidelines.
On his party, Chief Pharmacist, Daudi Msasi said that following drug resistance the government has already removed some medicines from use such as penicillin, tetecycline, chroloquine and SP.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
