"Antimicrobial resistance poses a great challenge to global public heath today, for it threatens the effective prevention and treatment of a growing number of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi". Thus Cardinal Peter Turkson in his Message for the World Antibiotics Awareness Week, which begins today, November 12.
"If left unaddressed - adds the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development - the continued emergence and spread of drug-resistant diseases will put at risk the effectiveness of modern medicine and is therefore a challenge to the health and development of nations", while "makes it more difficult to safeguard the health and well-being of people most vulnerable to life-threatening infections, especially women giving birth, newborns, patients with certain chronic diseases and those undergoing chemotherapy or surgery" and threatens, in particular, "hundreds of millions of people who have no access to health care and are most susceptible to diseases related to antimicrobial resistance".
"As Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development - he continues - I join the International Community to make this urgent call to action in order to limit the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. The time available to us is running out, and we must therefore act to promote and undertake the necessary changes in behavior, to increase the level of awareness and effectiveness of preventive interventions, to intensify infection control and to use antibiotics properly".
HERE is the full text of the Message in Italian and English.