World Health Day Today
Call for rational use of antibiotics
Bangladesh will observe World Health Day today as elsewhere across the globe with the theme “Antimicrobial resistance and its global spread”.
On the eve of the day, Health Minister Prof AFM Ruhal Haque yesterday said antimicrobial resistance has become a concern of the world and the country as well.
While speaking at a press conference in the health ministry's conference room, the minister also admitted that pharmacies are not selling antibiotics accordingly paying little heed to the issue, as most of pharmacists are unregistered.
He said Directorate General of Drug Administration would be strengthened with manpower soon to toughen monitoring in the market.
Patients often buy antibiotics without knowing its appropriate use, as there is no need of prescription of the doctors to buy antibiotics. But ineffective and indiscriminate use is turning microorganisms to be more resistant against different drugs, he said
The minister stressed on the need to increase awareness on rational use of antibiotics to combat drug resistance.
He also said his government is working seriously for the improvement of the health sector.
Health Secretary Mohammad Humayun Kabir and Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Khondker Shefyetullah were also present.
UNB reports: President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.
The president called for achieving more success and progress in the health sector by keeping population under control. He lauded the theme of this year's health day, terming it “time befitting”.
“I think it is important to raise awareness and a sense of responsibility among professionals and common people through highlighting research results both in national and international levels”, he said.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Abuse of antibiotic is rampant in treatment of various diseases in many places of the world. As a result, people's resistance power is lessening. Effectiveness of medicine in curing diseases is weakening.”
She said concerted effort and applied research are needed to save human beings from this catastrophe.
The prime minister called upon all concerned to come forward to supplement the government initiative to improve public health through prevention of diseases and control.
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