By Tupuola Terry Tavita

A superbug found in New Delhi which resists all conventional medicine has overshadowed today’s World Health Day across the globe.

It’s therefore only logical that this year’s theme is “Combating anti-microbial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow.”

The strong message from Health to the community? Do not overuse, underuse and, especially, recklessly use antibiotics.

“There is a tendency in our community to borrow other people’s antibiotics,” says pharmacist Fepuleai Tavita.

“Not only is that medicine not prescribed for you but it also means that person you borrowed from did not finish taking their antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor.’
“It is very important that you see the doctor when you’re sick and the doctor will prescribe to you what medicine you need.”

Irresponsible use of antibiotics, Health warns, will lead to anti-microbial resistant bugs. And there has been a growing number of those in recent years.

Delivering the keynote address at the morning’s World Health Day commemoration ceremony at Motootua, Health Minister Tuitama Dr Talalelei Tuitama warns of a growing global concern that the current generation of anti-microbial drugs are at risk of high levels of drug-resistant microbes, rendering them ineffective.”

“Anti-microbial resistance and its global spread threatens the continued effectiveness of many medicines used today to treat the sick – while at the same time it risks jeopardizing important advances being made against major infectious killers.

The nightmare scenario being the spread and prevalence of untreatable diseases.

Fepulea’i advises the public to see the doctor when they are sick and not their pharmacist for prescription drugs as commonly happens here.

“The Pharmacists Association has a very clear framework regarding prescription drugs – they can only be prescribed by a practicing doctor.”

Today also marked the launching of three important health documents by the ministry – the National Non-Communicable Disease Policy 2010-2015, the National Tobacco Control Policy and Strategy 2010-2015 and the National Health Promotion Policy.

This is also the last World Health Day to be commemorated at the current Health administration headquarters. Next year they will move across the road to their new office building while the old location is demolished to make way for a new national hospital.

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