November-December . 2024 | The HEALTH

The urgent need for global awareness and action

BY ZAFIRAH ZAFRUDDIN

To address this issue , the Ministry of Health Malaysia ( MOH ) organised a media engagement session workshop at The Everly , Putrajaya .

The workshop , held in conjunction with the World AMR Awareness Week ( WAAW ), sought to encourage greater media coverage and in-depth reporting on AMR . Representatives from various media outlets attended it .

ANTIBIOTICS USAGE

Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital Consultant Infectious Diseases , Dr Azureen Azmel sheds light on the common misconception surrounding the usage of antibiotics .

“ Many people mistakenly believe that viruses and bacteria are the same . It ’ s crucial to understand that they are fundamentally different .”

This misapprehension often leads to unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions . In some cases , patients continue to insist on antibiotics despite being advised that they are not needed .

“ Antibiotics target bacterial infections , not viral infections ,” she reiterated .

Dr Azureen stressed the importance of using antibiotics astutely . Misusing them can precipitate antimicrobial resistance , making common infections harder to treat .

In fact , a 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey ( NHMS ) revealed a significant gap in public awareness about antibiotics and AMR . The survey , which included over 3,000 respondents , primarily middle-aged individuals from rural areas , showed that 78 per cent had never heard of AMR .

Additionally , two-thirds of respondents incorrectly believed that antibiotics could kill viruses .

MEDIA ’ S ROLE

The media plays a crucial role in raising public awareness of AMR . While campaigns like WAAW can help spotlight the issue , ongoing dialogue is needed to ensure AMR remains a central focus in public discourse .

The clarity and consistency of Covid- 19 messaging can serve as a blueprint for

AMR campaigns . By adopting similar strategies , we can gradually improve public understanding of AMR .

During an interactive panel session titled ‘ Overcoming Challenges in AMR Reporting ,’ the Vital Signs Asia Co-Founder and Director and The Vibes Former Executive Director , Manvir Victor , proposed addressing AMR through targeted community outreach .

He referenced Mongolia ’ s approach to addressing vitamin deficiencies among children : “ Mongolia is a big country , making it challenging for aid to reach the population . To address this , they deployed mobile health units to villages . With the village chief ’ s help , they reached out to the women , who were the primary caretakers of their community .

“ They educated the women about the importance of vitamins and placed the supplements in their care to ensure their families received them .”

Within just five years , the initiative successfully addressed vitamin deficiency in the affected regions . This success story underscores the significance of community-based health interventions .

Recognising women as the primary caregivers , Victor believes they are the ideal audience for health-related awareness campaigns . This approach not only ensures broader acceptance but also drives behavioural change within families .

ECONOMIC IMPACT

In 2019 , AMR caused 1.27 million deaths worldwide , exceeding the fatalities

Antimicrobial Resistance ( AMR ) affects not just human health but also animal welfare and ecosystems . One Health is a collaborative approach focused on achieving optimal health outcomes by recognising the interconnectedness of humans , animals , plants , and the environment .

Malaysia has been embracing the One Health approach to combat AMR . One of its initiatives is the Tricycle Project , undertaken in collaboration with the World Health Organisation ( WHO ).

This project involves collecting samples from various sources . These

Dr Azureen Azmel

Interactive panel session .

samples help researchers with analysing the spread and emergence of AMR across different sectors : 1 . Human Health : Samples from patients in hospitals . 2 . Animal Health : Samples from chicken faeces , representing the food chain .

3 . Environmental Health : Samples from water sources . Since 2017 , Malaysia has implemented the Malaysian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance ( MyAP-AMR ). At present , the plan is in its 2022 – 2026 phase , targeting several critical areas .

• Raising Awareness :

IMAGE BY MYOHAR

caused by human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) and malaria . By 2050 , projections estimate AMR could result in 10 million deaths annually , with 4.7 million occurring in Asia alone .

Without immediate action , Malaysia could face not just 87,000 deaths but also an economic loss of US $ 2.5 billion due to AMR . The World Bank has also cautioned that failing to control AMR could lead to US $ 3.4 trillion in global economic losses by 2030 .

AMR drives up healthcare costs through additional medical interventions , extended hospitalisations , and reinfection risks .

Tourism-dependent sectors in countries with high AMR rates may experience a significant revenue loss . In response , governments might be forced to reallocate funds from other development priorities to tackle AMRrelated issues . – The HEALTH

Conducting education campaigns to inform the public about the dangers of AMR and the importance of antibiotic stewardship .

• Surveillance : Improving data collection systems to monitor AMR developments and identify emerging threats .

• Infection Control : Promoting good hygiene practices and infection prevention measures in healthcare settings .

• Responsible Antibiotic Use : Ensuring that antibiotics are prescribed and used appropriately .