The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has joined the global health community to mark the 2025 World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), running from 18 to 24 November, under the theme “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”

The observance calls for urgent action to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials and safeguard public health.

According to PSGH President Pharm. Paul Owusu Donkor, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites evolve to resist medicines, making infections harder or impossible to treat.

“Misuse, overuse, and abuse of antibiotics put everyone at risk,” he warned, noting that AMR can lead to prolonged illness, higher healthcare costs, disability, and death.

AMR also threatens essential medical procedures such as surgeries, cancer treatment, childbirth, and management of chronic diseases.

The 2015 World Health Assembly Global Action Plan on AMR emphasised the need for improved awareness, stronger stewardship, and coordinated global action.

The PSGH has been at the forefront of education and advocacy on AMR in Ghana, training pharmacists and healthcare professionals as AMR Stewards, Champions, and Fellows under initiatives like the Commonwealth Partnership for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS). The Society continues to support antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes in health facilities nationwide.

The PSGH urged the public to seek expert advice before taking any medicine, including antibiotics, and cautioned against misuse in both humans and animals, as this accelerates resistance.

It also encouraged citizens to maintain vaccinations, practice good hygiene and sanitation, and handle, prepare, and store food safely to reduce infections.

Owusu Donkor highlighted that AMS is a shared responsibility across ministries, hospitals, and professional groups, and called for strict enforcement of laws and guidelines relating to antimicrobial use and infection prevention.

“Everyone has a role to play in protecting our present and securing our future,” he said, urging government, health professionals, farmers, and the public to act responsibly to curb AMR and preserve the effectiveness of life-saving medicines.