By Oluwatosin Maliki
The World Health Organisation (WHO), has issued a stern warning to people all over the world, to stop misusing antibiotics.
WHO noted that this misuse dents the individual’s efficacy, spawning resistant bacteria which could be responsible for 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050.
This was issued on Thursday, following a survey conducted on the use of antibiotics by the organisation.
The study which was carried out by the European chapter of WHO, showed that antibiotics were prescribed for things like the common cold (24 percent of cases), flu-like symptoms (16 percent), a sore throat (21 percent) and cough (18 percent).
Quest Times gathered that the survey was executed in 14 countries, mostly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The statement read, “While AMR (antimicrobial resistance) is a natural phenomenon, the development and spread of superbugs are being accelerated by the misuse of antimicrobials, rendering infections more challenging to treat effectively”.
It was also learnt that WHO’s European region is comprised of 53 countries, including several in Central Asia.
Robb Butler, director of WHO Europe’s Division of Communicable Diseases, said in a statement, that “All countries in our region have regulations in place to protect precious antibiotics from misuse… Enforcing these regulations would solve most antibiotic misuse”.
Furthermore, WHO stressed that without immediate intervention, the resistance to antimicrobials which includes antibiotics could lead to 10 million deaths a year by 2050.
Additionally, it cited incorrect prescription as a major “cause for concern,” expressing, that in all the 14 countries, a third of the roughly 8,200 people surveyed had taken antibiotics without a medical prescription.
While, in some countries, over 40 percent of antibiotics were used without medical advice.
Although a similar survey conducted in the European Union in 2022, revealed that only eight percent of respondents took antibiotics without a prescription.
The health organisation also pointed out that people had little or no knowledge about antibiotics, which means they could be taking antibiotics for the wrong reason without realising it.
Butler said, “This research clearly shows the need for education and awareness raising”.