By Leslie Gatpolintan/PNA
MANILA — The government on Monday launched a campaign to promote prudent use of antimicrobial drugs on farm animals to ensure productivity for producers.
Dr. Samuel Joseph Castro, focal resource person on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and assistant focal for Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Food Safety Programme, said the iAMResponsible campaign focuses on the roles of stakeholders to reduce effects of AMR and promote good animal husbandry practices.
Castro said targeted stakeholders include veterinarians and practitioners, farms, drug companies and retail, and local government units (LGUs) and field personnel.
“AMR is a condition where an antimicrobial is no longer effective in treating diseases caused by microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and parasites,” he said during the launch of the campaign.
The acceleration of the spread of AMR happens particularly in cases where antimicrobials are used in low dose over a long period of time, or high dose over short period of time, or purposes other than therapeutics, such as for growth promotion, according to a statement on the campaign.
“AMR is a multisectoral problem. We are working, in cooperation with the DOH (Department of Health), to address this problem. The DA and its agencies are focusing on AMR,” he added.
Through a One Health Approach, Castro further said the animal health sector, in collaboration with the human health sector, is addressing the effects of AMR on “all fronts.”
The statement said the effort to address the threat of AMR in the country is strengthened with the creation of the Regional AMR Councils in all regional field offices of the DA, the resulting initiatives implemented at their level, and with the support of concerned LGUs.
Meanwhile, Castro said they will conduct a local campaign to promote prudent use of antimicrobial drugs next year.
“Possibly, (we will) translate specific messages to local languages. We can do it hopefully next year, we will be doing a local campaign,” he added.
