‘Overuse of antibiotics harmful’

Our Correspondent KOHIMA, MARCH 15 Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is becoming a major threat to global public health as declared by World Health Organisation (WHO), and India is reported to be the world’s largest consumer of antibiotics with 62% increase in popping habit over the last decade. Consumers International (CI) has chosen ‘Antibiotics off the menu’ as the theme for the World Consumer Rights Day for fast food companies like McDonald’s, Subway and KFC to make global commitments to stop serving meat from animals routinely given antibiotics used in human medicine. It is reported that different national and international consumer organisations from across the world collaborated with Consumers International (CI) to campaign and challenge especially the multi-national restaurant chains and food companies to make global commitment. Speaking as resource person on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day at Loyala School, Jakhama, L Nokcha, Deputy Controller LMCP highlighted about antibiotics, its functions and side effects due to overuse. He said overuse of antibiotics unnecessarily is the main reason for developing antibiotic resistance, which causes people to be sick for a long time and increases the risk of death. He said if the problem is left unaddressed, then antibiotic resistance could recreate a world in which invasive surgeries will become impossible and people would die from simple infections. He said around half of the antibiotics produced globally is used in agriculture, much of which is being administered to animals raised for food to promote faster growth rather than treating diseases. Despite worldwide concern on overuse of antibiotics, its use in agriculture has increased by two-thirds from 63,200 tons in 2010 to 105,600 tons by 2030. According to the Environmental Working Group, 87% of tested meat samples such as pork, beef, chicken and turkey were contaminated by atleast one species of antibiotic resistance bacteria, these bacteria, he said are spread from farm to people through soil, air, water, manure and consumption of contaminated meat and animal products. More on page 5 In this regard, he said though governments are starting to respond to the impending crisis, their action alone will not be enough, but civil societies, business and consumers need to play a lead role to stop this global public health threat and protect our medicines for future use. ‘Consumer groups and civil societies are very important movers, shakers and frontline players in this age of social media to create awareness’ said Nokcha adding consumers who question the safety of food produced from heavily medicated animals and make purchasing decisions accordingly can make impact on industry practices. Posing some questions for the participants to ponder, he asked whether the consumers of Nagaland ever thought about the source of meat supply coming into local market and whether routine check is done on livestock brought in. Nokcha said the best way is to consume organic meat varieties and encourage local people to open local farms to raise animals free of antibiotics that can suffice demand in the market. He also suggested that farmers should be encouraged to go for organic rather than chemicals to avoid biomagnifications ie deposition of chemicals in human that enters the body through food chains. Nokcha also urged the state policy makers to urgently address the problem by developing strategies and putting into action to control overuse of antibiotics. He maintained, ‘we as responsible consumers can contribute to stop the impending threat to human health and witness a disease free world’. The programme was attended by high school students of Loyala School and teachers which was led by Haikambe, Assistant Controller, LMCP, Kohima while the invocation was pronouced by Fr Victor SJ, Principal, short speech delivered by Athsangla (NCS), SDO (C) Jakhama.