
Chukwu Obinna
Abuja, Nigeria- The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has renewed its campaign against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), warning that the crisis could render common infections untreatable if unchecked.
In a message posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, the NCDC urged Nigerians to adopt safe practices, including avoiding self-medication, completing prescriptions, not sharing leftover drugs, regular handwashing, and staying updated with vaccinations.
“Together, we can stop AMR. It requires responsibility at the personal level and vigilance in our communities,” the centre stated.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the medicines designed to kill them.
Experts warn it undermines effective treatment of diseases, increases medical costs, and raises the risk of severe illness and death.
Global health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have repeatedly cautioned that without urgent action, antimicrobial resistance could trigger a public health emergency, reversing decades of medical progress.