Meru residents have been urged to adhere to doctors’ drug prescription to avert antimicrobial resistance.
Speaking during a drug resistance campaign in Meru town, County health officials urged residents to stop ignoring doctors instructions and drug prescriptions.
They said many lifestyle diseases are caused by patients who do not bother to completely finish their prescribed drugs or eat healthy food.
“Some get chemicals into their body without knowing either through spraying the chemicals and harvesting the vegetables or fruits before the required time.
Some people acquire the resistance by administering drugs to their livestock and immediately milking them. We must be careful and know that our health is our responsibility,” Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) Coordinator Lilian Kaloki said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis that affects human and animal health, food production, and the environment.
It occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines.
Antimicrobial resistance makes infections harder to treat and increases the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death.
The campaign spearheaded by county health promotion officer Susan Muthoni and public health director Joshua Meme is meant to encourage people to take action to reduce the spread of AMR.
Antimicrobial resistance happens when microbes like bacteria and fungi outsmart medications used to treat them.
