E-DRUG: Regional Director's message on World Health Day, 7 April 2011
---------------------------------------------------------
http://www.afro.who.int/en/rdo/speeches/2834-message-of-the-regional-director-on-the-occasion-of-the-world-health-day-2011.html
[Posted by "Carinne Bruneton" <c.bruneton@remed.org>]
It is my pleasure to join you, once again, to celebrate the World Health
Day, today, 7th April 2011. The theme for this year's celebration is; Combat
Drug Resistance: "No action today, No cure tomorrow". It emphasizes the
critical role that drug resistance monitoring plays in the successful
treatment and outcome of the various infectious diseases.
Antibiotics have been in use for over 70 years with positive outcomes in
patients. Due to prolonged and at times suboptimal use of these drugs,
targeted germs have developed resistance. The other reasons for drug
resistance include the use of fake and counterfeit medicines, poor
prescribing habits and non compliance to prescribed treatment. If not
properly managed, resistant germs may spread and cause severe diseases.
However, attempts have been made to overcome drug resistance through the
development of newer medicines and combining multiple drugs in the treatment
of single germs.
In our Region, drug resistance surveillance is limited to a few countries
resulting in incomplete data on the true extent of this problem. Despite
limited laboratory capacity to monitor this resistance; available data
suggest that the African Region shares the worldwide trend of increasing
drug resistance. Significant resistance has for example been reported for
diseases such as bloody diarrhoea due to dysentery, tuberculosis, Malaria
and AIDS.
Between 2008 and 2009, of the 451 isolates of the Shigella germs responsible
for bloody diarrhoea identified by 18 countries in the region, 78% were
resistant to the primary drug used to treat this condition. This has led to
the use of new medicines that are relatively expensive.
With regard to Tuberculosis, over 35,000 cases of resistance to several
effective drugs used have been notified by over 35 countries since 2007 in
the region. While primary transmission of these strains occurs, the most
important cause of this resistance is inadequate or poor compliance to
tuberculosis treatment.
In the early 1990s, wide-spread resistance to Chloroquine had been detected
in the Region. This led to change in the malaria treatment policies to new
combination drugs. To date, there has been no confirmed resistance to these
new antimalarial medicines in the region. However, we must remain vigilant
and regularly monitor the emergence of resistance to these drugs.
In relation to AIDS, a recent survey conducted at antenatal clinics in
several countries in the Region estimated that resistance to all classes of
AIDS drugs combined was less than 5%. This is likely to increase as more
patients are placed on these drugs.
Surveillance is the primary strategy for tracking emerging drug resistance
in the population, and thus allowing for early and appropriate action.
Countries should therefore strengthen their capacity for early detection and
identification of resistant germs that cause diseases of public health
importance.
In addition, national laboratories responsible for monitoring drug
resistance must be suitably staffed and fully equipped for them to produce
meaningful data in support of this surveillance. The information generated
should be regularly shared between stakeholders for informed action by
national authorities.
Left unchecked, the uncontrolled rise in resistant germs threatens lives and
wastes limited resources. Urgent and coordinated action is required at all
levels to ensure the preservation of these life-saving drugs for future
generations.
Governments should develop and implement medicine policies and strategies
that take into consideration the threat of drug resistance so as to limit
the evolution and possible spread of resistant germs.
I would like to call upon Members States to take advantage of this year's
World Health Day theme to awaken to the real threat of drug resistance in
our region, consolidate our efforts to combat it and raise the required
resources. No action today, No cure tomorrow.
Thank you.
Dr Luis Gomes Sambo
WHO Africa Regional Director