Use antibiotics wisely or risk losing it entirely
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious threats to human and animal health globally, and Namibia’s agricultural sector has a critical role to play in addressing it.
This was the central message of a presentation by Professor Mark Holmes of the University of Cambridge at a Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) information day held in Windhoek recently.
Holmes outlined a core principle: antibiotics are effective only when a disease is bacterial in origin, when the correct antibiotic is used, and when the bacteria have not developed resistance. When antibiotics are misused or overused, resistant bacteria survive, multiply and spread, reducing the effectiveness of treatment.
Bacteria can acquire resistance by exchanging genetic material, and the presence of antibiotics in the environment increases the likelihood of resistance developing.
Growing global crisis
The scale of the threat is significant. The 2016 O’Neill Report, commissioned by the UK government, projected that AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050, surpassing cancer as a leading cause of death. Currently, at least 700 000 deaths a year are attributed to resistant infections, although this is considered a conservative estimate. At the same time, the development of new antibiotics is slowing, increasing the importance of preserving the effectiveness of existing treatments.
Holmes noted that the link between antibiotic use in agriculture and resistance in humans is more complex than often assumed. Research cited in the presentation suggests that reducing antibiotic use in livestock, on its own, may have a limited direct impact on resistance levels in humans.
What farmers can do
Certain farming practices remain high risk. Treating entire groups of animals instead of individuals, poor dosage control, and high-density production systems can create conditions that encourage the development and spread of resistance. The use of antibiotics as growth promoters, still practised in some parts of the world despite bans in the European Union and the United States, was highlighted as particularly problematic.
The key message for farmers and veterinarians is practical: use antibiotics as little as possible, but as much as necessary. Maintaining animal health through good husbandry, vaccination programmes, biosecurity and early diagnosis can significantly reduce the need for treatment.
Namibia has adopted a National Action Plan on AMR, but its success depends on coordinated action across the sector - from policymakers and veterinarians to animal health technicians and farmers on the ground.
