Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in the livestock sector will be controlled, said Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim.
The minister said this in the speech of the chief guest at the research results notification workshop on antimicrobial resistance at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday. The workshop was organized under the project titled ‘Antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic disease prevention to achieve the goals of the Global Health Security Agenda in Bangladesh’ under implementation by Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI).
The minister said, “The problem is being created by the easy availability of antibiotics, its arbitrary use without prescription and allowing its use by unqualified persons. It is necessary to create awareness about this. This requires training. Safe and nutritious food should be consumed so that the use of antibiotics does not weaken us. The hope is that the use of trust in animal health protection worldwide is declining at present.”
He further added that the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has realized the harmful side of indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
The ministry is trying to control it. Antimicrobial resistance laboratories of international standards have been developed to control indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Medicines used for animal health will be tested in this lab to see if they have the right ingredients.
If necessary, the scope of this lab will be increased. Training of veterinarians and related staff will also be provided to prevent misuse of antibiotics. It will also be seen that those who work at the field level in the livestock sector, cannot use antibiotics indiscriminately.
He further said that antibiotics are used for good purposes but due to lack of awareness and negligence of people and animal medicine concerned, antibiotics are being used indiscriminately in the country. It can create dangerous conditions for both animals and humans.
S.M. Rezaul Karim also added, there is no reason to think that people will be safe if animal health is bad, because humans are now mixing with animals. It is necessary to protect animal health not only for the protection of animals but also for the protection of humans. This matter should be thought deeply.
“The government wants to develop One Health System as animal health is closely related to human health. Collective cooperation is required in this regard,” he stress further.
Director General of BLRI Dr. SM Jahangir Hossain presided over the seminar while the ministry secretary Muhammad Yamin Chowdhury was present as a special guest in the workshop. Additional Secretary of the ministry Shyamal Chandra Karmakar was also present as a special guest. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Toufiqul Arif and director general of the Department of Livestock Dr. Manzoor Mohammad Shahzada was present as the guest of honor. The director of the relevant project Md. Abdus Samad presented the welcome speech and research results on antimicrobial resistance. Senior officials of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and BLRI, teachers of various universities, representatives of various national and international organizations, scientists, teachers, experts and entrepreneurs were present in the workshop.
