DAVAO CITY (November 22)– The iAMResponsible campaign of various Food Safety Regulatory bodies of the country and of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will raise industry standard on livestock and agriculture.
As part of the nationwide celebration of the Antibiotic Awareness Week, the iAMResponsible campaign was launched on November 19, 2018 to further raise public awareness and encourage industry movers towards the responsible use of antimicrobial to reduce the effects of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“As the demand of consumers for meat products increases, the standard required by the industry also increases,” BAI OIC Director Dr. Ronnie D. Domingo said.
The campaign also seeks to encourage the practice of good animal husbandry, raise awareness, and strengthen capacity in monitoring and surveillance to reduce AMR effects.
According to World Health Organization, AMR is a condition when microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and parasites develop resistance to antimicrobial.
As a result, the use of antimicrobials drugs for treating livestock, poultry and aquaculture health problem becomes ineffective and poses a serious threat to global public health and overall food security.
The persistent overuse and misuse of antimicrobials in livestock, poultry, aquaculture health, as well as with human health sector can lead to emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. This phenomenon paved way for an intensive action on all sectors of government and the society, through a One Health Approach.
FAO is supporting about thirty (30) countries including Philippines in the development and implementation of their multi-sectoral national action plans against AMR. The Philippines is one of the first countries which launched a National Action Plan to Combat AMR on 2015 during the very first Antibiotic Awareness Summit in the country.
To intensify FAO-DA-BAI AMR project, a Regional AMR Council will be created in all regional field offices of the DA.
BAI will also conduct a local campaign starting next year on the prudent use of antimicrobial drugs. – Jiann Padillo/ NewsLine
