Chief Vet urges prudent use of antibiotics

From left, Dr. Osbil Watson, Chief Veterinary Officer at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, in discussion with Dr. Winston De La Haye, Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health; and Dr. Tomlin Paul, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies (UWI), at the Antibiotic Awareness Week Opening Ceremony, held at the UWI, Mona on November 14.

Chief veterinary officer in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Osbil Watson, has joined the call for the prudent use of antibiotics not only by humans, but also in livestock production.
This, he said, was because of the inextricable link between human and animal health and their interaction in the environment.
The chief vet, who was among the speakers at Jamaica’s launch of World Antibiotic Awareness Week held Tuesday, November 14 at the Regional Headquarters of the University of the West Indies, Mona, pointed out that over 60 per cent of human diseases were of animal origin and emphasised the importance of not using antibiotics as growth promoters in the local meat and poultry industry.
Dr Watson further urged the “one health approach” in safeguarding the health of both humans and animals and expressed the Ministry’s full support for measures to heighten the awareness regarding the harmful effects of the misuse of antimicrobial drugs.
The Veterinary Services Division is working with all stakeholders to ensure that Jamaica’s animal health, welfare, food safety and the environment are safeguarded in the fight to reduce antibiotic resistance, Dr Watson said.
Jamaica has joined countries across the globe in observing World Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Week, November 13 to 19, to highlight the growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics as a result of the overuse of the drugs.
The week of activities has been organised by the Jamaica Antimicrobial Resistance Technical Working Group in collaboration with PAHO/WHO.
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