700,000 People Die Yearly From Drug- resistant Infections, Says Expert

THE Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital ( UBTH), on Friday, celebrated the Antimicrobial Awareness Week with a call for increased awareness on various antimicrobial agents used for the treatment of infections.

A Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and Infection Control Physician at the university, Dr. Igunma Jeremiah, made the call during an event to mark the week, in conjunction with the Departments of Pharmacy, Family Medicine/ General practice clinic ( GPC), Clinical Pharmacology unit as well as the Association of Resident Doctors, with sponsorship from the management of

UBTH and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

This year’s Awareness Week, with the theme: “Preventing antimicrobial resistance together” had in attendance, members of the Local Organising Committee including Dr . Osaigbovo Iriagbonse; Dr. Adebowale Afolabi Joseph; Dr. Yowin Edit and others

Igunma said marking the week was a global event celebrated between November 18 and 24, yearly, adding that the event was i ntended to increase a wareness on antimicrobial agents used for the treatment of infections.

“Antibiotics have saved millions of lives, and estimates show that they increase the average human lifespan by 23 years, ” he said.