The World Health Organization’s Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, has revealed that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to claim more than 60,000 lives annually in Nigeria, a trend that has persisted since 1990. He made this known in a message delivered on Tuesday to mark the 2025 World AMR Awareness Week, themed “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”
According to the WHO, AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve in ways that reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of medicines used to treat infections. As resistance increases, common drugs become less effective, making diseases harder to cure and increasing the risk of severe illness, death, and widespread outbreaks.
World AMR Awareness Week, observed globally from November 18 to 24, aims to boost public understanding of antimicrobial resistance and promote responsible use of medicines among the public, policymakers, and health stakeholders.
Dr. Ursu noted that Antimicrobial Resistance disproportionately affects lower-income nations and vulnerable populations, creating a threat that reaches beyond the health sector. He stressed that drug resistance already impacts healthcare costs, food systems, environmental stability, economic growth, and sustainable development. Despite the growing danger, he warned that awareness and investment remain insufficient.
He highlighted global data showing millions of deaths linked to AMR in 2021 and cautioned that the situation could worsen dramatically by 2050 without urgent intervention. Specifically in Nigeria, he emphasized the high burden among children under five and called for stronger surveillance, improved healthcare systems, enhanced access to diagnostics and medicines, and cross-sector collaboration.
Dr. Ursu urged governments, civil society, and all health actors to translate political commitments into measurable actions to safeguard future generations.
