Misuse of antibiotics in animals, growing threat to Nigeria’s public health, experts warn

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised concerns about the misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals, describing it as a growing threat to public health.

Speaking at the conclusion of the 2024 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, held in collaboration with the Royal Danish Embassy and Denmark’s Ministry of Environment and Food, Adeyeye emphasized the severe consequences of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), often caused by the irresponsible use of antibiotics.

“Misusing antibiotics, such as consuming animals treated with these drugs before they clear from their systems, contributes to antimicrobial resistance. This renders antibiotics ineffective, posing serious risks to human health,” she stated. Adeyeye urged stakeholders to adopt responsible antibiotic practices, noting that the awareness week’s theme, “Educate, Advocate, Act Now,” underscores the urgency of the issue.

NAFDAC has intensified efforts to educate pharmacists, veterinarians, and other professionals on the appropriate use of antibiotics. Adeyeye also stressed the importance of obtaining receipts for antibiotic purchases to enable traceability in cases of resistance. “Veterinarians and butchers must avoid slaughtering animals immediately after administering antibiotics, allowing sufficient withdrawal periods,” she added.

Highlighting the dangers of AMR, she warned that infections once easily treatable with antibiotics are becoming harder to manage due to resistance caused by misuse.

Veterinarian Dr. Modupe Obiora explained that improper use of antibiotics in animals significantly impacts human health.

 Obiora, who runs Royal Vets Clinics in Calabar, Cross River State, said, “The most common result of this is antibiotic resistance in humans. Of course, this practice is rampant in Nigeria. The resultant effect is that people ingest low doses of certain drugs over time, making their bodies resistant to such drugs.

“Every drug, especially antibiotics, has what we call a withdrawal period. This means the period during which eggs, milk, or meat from such animals should not be consumed by humans because residues of the drugs remain in the animal’s system.

“The withdrawal period ranges between 3 and 21 days. That means the egg, milk, or meat from such animals can only be consumed after the withdrawal period. Resistance occurs when people ingest low doses of antibiotics over time.”

When asked about the danger of slaughtering animals that appear unwell after treatment, in an attempt to avoid waste,  Obiora responded, “It is very dangerous. It happens every day. Birds, cows, sheep, and goats on medication are slaughtered and eaten. That is why, when you are sick, the antibiotics prescribed for you might not work because you’ve already built resistance from the milk, meat, and eggs consumed over time from such animals.”

Obiora added, “This practice is common in Nigeria and makes standard treatments ineffective.”

Similarly, Dr. Gabriel Ominaiye, Medical Director of God’s Goal Hospital, Lagos, warned about cross-resistance from consuming improperly treated livestock.

“When bacteria become resistant to an antibiotic, the drug cannot eliminate infections in humans, posing significant health risks,” he said.

Apostle Life Adekunle David, a Gospel minister and trained accountant with entrepreneurial expertise, advocates for organic methods. As the Executive Entrepreneurial Director of Sycamore Multi-Biz Dimensions Ltd. (SMD), he oversees a diverse conglomerate that includes farming.

The Kwara State-based livestock farmer explained, “I use plant-based antibiotics like bitter leaf and scent leaf juice for my livestock. This approach minimizes the risk of resistance.”

Meat and egg consumers have expressed growing unease about food safety.

A meat buyer, Oladepo Oluwasegun, lamented, “We don’t know if the beef or poultry products we consume are safe. Prices are high, but quality is uncertain.”

Similarly, Maryanne Hassan, a consumer, raised concerns about poultry products. “Eggs are expensive, yet we’re unsure about the health of the layers or what they’re fed. The government should regulate farming practices and support affordable animal feed production,” she advised.

“A crate of eggs now costs ₦6,000 in some places, and the ones sold for ₦5,400 are very tiny. We don’t know what the layers are fed with. Only God is left for the common man in Nigeria. Poultry feeds are very expensive, so people resort to all manner of practices, which must reflect in the eggs,” she added.

Veterinarians at abattoirs have been urged to enforce proper protocols before approving animal slaughter to safeguard public health. Stakeholders emphasize that stricter regulations and public education are critical to addressing the misuse of antibiotics and mitigating its impact on human health.