By FELICIA IMOHIMI

The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr. James Inuwa Balami, has alerted that human deaths due to Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) will rise to 44 million by 2050.

He made this known at the sideline of a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop organised by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in Abuja.

Inuwa, who based the statistics on the National Action Plan 2 (NAP-2) on Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), said the deaths would be because of failure to put adequate measures in place.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop focuses on Biosecurity, Herd Health, Udder Health and Integrated Pest Control Management.

He said that no fewer than 1.2 million people died due to AMR in 2019.

According to him, at the moment AMR is a big global issue, and is likely to be the next pandemic.

NAN reports that the Federal Government has alerted that Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) will be the next pandemic, if necessary actions are not taken to ensure animal health.

AMR occurs when microbes evolve mechanisms that protect them from antimicrobials, which are drugs used to treat infections.

The CVON, however, identified biosecurity as one of the surest measures to control AMR in humans, attributing the burden to rate of antibiotic usage on animals by farmers.

Inuwa, who identified the livestock sector as key to food security, emphasised that the health of human beings are tied to animal health.

?Vaccinations happen to be the cheapest means to control or prevent animal diseases. How much does it cost to have a vaccine? How much does it cost to have antibiotics?

?If there is adequate biosecurity and good vaccinations, the issue of AMR will be a thing of the past.

?There is lack of adequate veterinarians, paraprofessionals, or community animal health workers to administer the antibiotics according to specifications.

?Hence, the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) and the Department of Animal Health in the Ministry of Livestock Development and L-PRES are working hard to ensure they intensify trainings of paraprofessionals and community animal health workers,? he said.

He added: ?The move is to ensure that at the grassroots level, these animals are dominated by adequate veterinary services.

?So, figures for AMR-related deaths in subsequent years may vary positively or negatively depending on awareness creation, advocacy to responsible authorities to take the fight against AMR very seriously.

?Strengthening biosecurity in livestock like poultry, fishery production to minimise unnecessary use of antibiotics for disease prevention and control, use of vaccinations will reduce disease incidences in livestock.?

Inuwa said that Nigeria?s livestock sector contributed significantly to food security, livelihoods and rural economy.

He said the sector was valued at 32 billion dollars at the moment, adding that it should increase to 74 billion dollars by 2035 by doubling the number of animals in the country.

According to him, the 74 billion dollars can be achieved through effective animal healthcare in the country and improvements in breed, feed and fodder.

Inuwa noted a need for a strong collaboration under One Health Approach between Federal Ministries of Health, Livestock Development and Environment. (NAN)

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