QECH in antimicrobial resistance awareness
As part of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) on Friday engaged faith leaders to sensitise them to the dangers of inappropriate use of antibiotics.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting on Friday, QECH antimicrobial resistance committee member Dr Dingase Kumwenda said there is a challenge worldwide of antimicrobial resistance because people are just buying and taking antibiotics without prescription.
She said it was important to engage faith leaders so that they join in championing the awareness of antimicrobial resistance among their members.
Kumwenda admitted that in some cases, the lack of proper diagnostic equipment in the country’s health facilities forces some healthcare workers to give patients wrong prescriptions.
She said: “The key message for the week is that everyone should be an antimicrobial resistance awareness champion.
“We want the faith leaders to tell their followers to use antibiotics appropriately, complete prescription and if they are to buy, they should buy from certified pharmacies.”
Light of God Pentecostal Church founder bishop Jonathan Kamtedza said he will share the knowledge with his pastors.
He said: “As pastors, we concentrate much on spiritual life, forgetting that a person is made up of spirit, body and soul.
“But now we will disseminate the information among our followers.”
The week is celebrated from November 18 to 24 every year. The 2021 theme is Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance.
