The Ministry of Health (MOH) hosted an Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Workshop at the Kedarm Conference Room of the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) on Monday, October 21, 2019 and Tuesday, October 22, 2019.
The two-day workshop focused on the development of a national action plan for combating antimicrobial resistance in Palau. Participants of the workshop included staff from the Ministry of Justice Division of Customs; the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment & Tourism Division of Biosecurity; the Koror State Animal Clinic; and the Ministry of Health.
Antimicrobials are drugs that kill or inhibit the growth of microbes (micro-organisms)—namely bacteria, virus, fungi, and some parasites that cause infections. These microbes are treated with antimicrobials.
Antimicrobial resistance refers to when a microbe (infection) is no longer effectively treated with antimicrobials. This means that the virus, bacteria, fungi, or parasite causing the infection has built a resistance to the drug so that it is no longer affected by the medication. Thus, a decline in treatment options for common infections occurs.
Antimicrobials are diminishing in efficacy due to irresponsible use, misuse, and overuse. Examples of irresponsible use of antimicrobials include not completing a course of antibiotics subscribed by a doctor or saving a part of it for future use; sharing antibiotics with others who are not prescribed antibiotics; exerting pressure on health workers to get antibiotics for an infection that does not require antibiotics; and prescribing or dispensing antibiotics with insufficient sensitivity justification. This inappropriate use of antibiotics provides an opportunity for the naturally occurring and other bacteria to develop resistance against antibiotics.
The workshop aimed to create a national policy in Palau that would regulate the use and distribution of medications that contain antimicrobials. Antimicrobial is often used in the medical and agricultural fields as treatment for people as well as animals that may show symptoms of infection. (PR)
Group photo of the Participants of the AMR Workshop that was held at the PICRC Conference Room.