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WVA Supports the World Antibiotic Awareness Week
Originally released by the World Veterinary Association on November 12, 2015
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) and its members - representing around half a million veterinarians worldwide – are proud to participate in World Antibiotic Awareness Week that will take place on 16 – 22 November 2015 worldwide.
One of the key objectives of the World Health Organization (WHO) global action plan to tackle the problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines is to improve awareness and understanding of antibiotic resistance. The World Antibiotic Awareness Week aims to encourage best practices to avoid further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.
The theme of the campaign, Antibiotics: Handle with Care, reflects the overarching message that antibiotics are a precious resource. Overuse and misuse must be avoided.
Two important WVA priority strategy issues are Pharmaceutical Stewardship and Veterinary Education. The veterinarian, by making informed decisions and by giving comprehensible advises, plays a key role in the responsible use of antibiotics. Veterinary pharmaceutical stewardship is founded upon good veterinary education.
The WVA President, Dr René Carlson expressed her concern about the fact that in more than 100 countries there is no oversight on the circulation of antimicrobials; “Each country should have an appropriate regulatory system for the licensing and control of veterinary drugs and antimicrobials in particular”.
The WVA advocates that antimicrobials shall only be used in animals according to a veterinary examination and diagnosis. They shall only be delivered upon a veterinary prescription, and in compliance with the laws and/or regulations of each country.Any unused or expired medicines, especially antimicrobials, should be disposed of properly, not through water waste systems.
The WVA recommends that counterfeit and other unregistered products shall not be used and that such use be combated. Please download the WVA Position Statement on Responsible Use of Antimicrobials.
The World Veterinary Association encourages all veterinarians, veterinary technicians, other animal health professionals and animal owners and keepers to contribute to achieving the goals of World Antibiotic Awareness Week.
Read more on World Antibiotic Awareness Week.
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