Dr. George Amofa, the former President of the Ghana Public Health Association (GPHA) and former Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service has made a strong appeal to Ghanaians to cease the indiscriminate use of antibiotics without a prescription.

Speaking at a training session for community pharmacists on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) organized by the Adabraka Polyclinic in Accra, Dr. Amofa emphasized the critical dangers of self-medication with antibiotics.

“Do not take these antibiotics at will; they are not toffees nor popcorn,” Dr. Amofa stated emphatically.

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Dr. Amofa’s remarks underscore the urgency of the issue, as he highlighted the importance of antibiotics as special drugs meant for specific purposes. He warned that the misuse of these medications is leading to increased resistance among microorganisms, leaving fewer effective treatment options available.

The training session, sponsored by the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association and championed in Ghana by the GPHA, aimed to equip community pharmacists with the knowledge to act as AMR stewards. This role involves educating the public and raising awareness about the threats of AMR to foster social and behavioral change.

Dr. Amofa pointed out that inappropriate antibiotic use is a significant contributor to the development of resistance.

“Any abdominal upset, any cold or cough – antibiotics. You can pump in all the antibiotics you want, but if it is a viral infection, it will not work, and you will end up creating problems for yourself.”
Dr. George Amofa, the former President of GPHA and former Deputy Director-General of GHS

Dr. Amofa stressed that taking antibiotics without a prescription wastes money and effort and exacerbates the problem by creating resistance that could render these drugs ineffective when truly needed.

Role of Community Pharmacists

Dr. Amofa called on community pharmacists to use their knowledge to change mental attitudes toward antibiotic use and avoid complicating patients’ illnesses through inappropriate prescriptions.

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi to withstand the effects of drugs designed to treat the infections they cause. This resistance complicates treatment, increases the risk of disease spread, raises the severity of illness, and ultimately increases mortality.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), AMR is among the top five threats to global health, alongside air pollution, climate change, noncommunicable diseases, the global influenza pandemic, and fragile and vulnerable settings.

Dr. Abdul Razak Quao, Medical Superintendent of Adabraka Polyclinic and Antimicrobial Resistant and Antimicrobial Resistance Stewardship Chairperson, echoed the growing concern about AMR threats in Ghana and globally.

Dr. Quao highlighted that research indicates about 84% of people in Ghana visit pharmacies as their first point of call when they are sick. Given this statistic, the training for pharmacists is crucial and forms part of the Adabraka Polyclinic’s action plan, derived from the National Action Plan to tackle AMR in the country.

“Strive to always do the right things in dispensing and learn to say no to clients when necessary and not always think of making profits to reduce the threats of AMR.”
Dr. Abdul Razak Quao, Medical Superintendent of Adabraka Polyclinic and Antimicrobial Resistant

The training session and the appeals from Dr. Amofa and Dr. Quao highlight a critical health issue facing Ghana and the world at large. The misuse of antibiotics and the resulting antimicrobial resistance pose a severe threat to public health.

Public education on the appropriate use of antibiotics and the importance of following medical advice is crucial in this fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Dr. George Amofa’s call to action is a timely reminder of the need for responsible antibiotic use and the vital role that pharmacists and the public play in combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.