Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, has said everyone, including health workers, must get involved in the antibiotic resistance campaign and urged the public to be cautious when patronizing antibiotics and to seek advice from health professionals for appropriate action.
He said antibiotic resistance had come about due to many complicated factors and needed to be tackled holistically.
The Minister said this in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of this year’s World Antibiotics Awareness Week (WAAW) on the theme: “Think Twice. Seek Advice,” in Accra.
It was organised jointly by the Ministry and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Organisation of Food and Agriculture, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Hope For Future Generation, a Civil Society Organisation.
World Anitbiotic Awareness Week (WAAW ) is celebrated every year in November to increase global awareness of antibiotics resistance and to encourage best practices among the public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.
Mr Agyeman-Manu said the major cause of resistance had been attributed to irresponsible use including incorrect medical indications, inappropriate self-medication, non-adherence to therapy, over-the-counter sale of antibiotics from unlicensed pharmacies and unapproved outlets and inappropriate use in animals across all sectors.

For more information please visit https://www.afro.who.int