28 Million Patients Receive Anti-infection Treatment

As a result of the resistance of infectious diseases to treatment with antibiotics – which is known as Antimicrobial Resistance, AMR - an estimated 700,000 lives lose their lives globally every year. The whooping figure was disclosed on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 during an online roundtable media briefing organised by the renowned pharmaceutical firm, Pfizer with health experts from French-speaking Africa.

40 Journalists Participate
The briefing marked World Antimicrobial Resistance Week, though it is celebrated from November 18-24 each year. Attended by 40 journalists from four countries – Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal - Pfizer hosted the virtual media roundtable to raise awareness on the growing public health challenge. “The more an antibiotic is used, the more chances bacteria have of developing resistance,” experts warned. 

Pfizer’s Vital Contribution 
According to Dr. Sylvie Kounde, Pfizer Chief Medical Officer for French-Speaking Sub-Saharan Africa, “AMR, if left unchecked, could lead to a scenario where minor infections become life-threatening and severe infections become impossible to control to treat. Despite the many challenges associated with the development of new anti-infection medication, Pfizer remains committed to providing effective new therapies that target new, emerging, difficult-to-treat infections…In 2020 alone, 28 million patients received anti-infection treatment with Pfizer-produced medication - a number that is constantly growing,” Dr Kounde disclosed.

Health Professionals Share Experiences 
Prof. Bamba-Pakotogo Sanata from Burkina Faso and Prof. Guessennd-Kouadio Aya Nathalie from Côte d’Ivoire participated in the roundtable. Participants discussed the risks of AMR and also what can be done to treat and prevent it. AMR occurs when antibiotics lose their potency because pathogens find ways to resist their effects, it was noted.

Awareness As Key
“Antimicrobials are among the most valuable medical resources the world has ever known, but they are losing their effectiveness at an alarming rate. Given the low public awareness on the risks of AMR, it is the responsibility of the medical community to educate patients on the alarming situation. Like COVID-19, AMR pathogens can spread far and quickly, affecting people of all ages. It is important to institute public health, prevention and surveillance measures to curb its spread.” Prof. Bamba-Pakotogo stressed. 

Looming Public Health Crisis
“With the high cost to individual health and the economy in general, AMR is a critical risk if left untreated. If AMR pathogens spread like COVID-19 did, we will face another public health crisis,” Prof. Guessennd-Kouadio warned.

Governments, Health Workers, Together 
Pfizer believes that governments and the public health community must work with industry to support actions that will drive continued innovation in the development of new antibiotics and vaccines to curb the spread of Anti-microbial Resistance, ...