09 Dec 2025

Minister of Health, Dr Stephen Modise, says World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates show that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019 and contributed to nearly 5 million more.

Speaking at the World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Commemoration Day held in Palapye recently, Dr Modise said in Botswana AMR was listed as the number one public health threat and it was estimated that approximately one in 10 patients admitted to a hospital experience a Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI), and AMR was now estimated to be the sixth leading cause of death in the country.

Dr Modise attributed this largely to patients demanding antibiotics for viral infections like the flu or a cold, followed by misuse or failure to finish the full prescribed course.

“When we do not finish a prescribed course of treatment, we allow the strongest germs to survive and multiply,” he explained.

The minister further cautioned against the risk of pharmaceutical waste and improper disposal of medicines contaminating water and soil, thus spreading resistance far and wide.

He advised the public against sharing unprescribed medication at home and against stopping medication before the actual time, which disrupted the healing process.

Other speakers at the event said there was an urgent need for coordinated action across animal health, human health and the environment.

Ministers from various  ministries of Lands and Agriculture, Environment and Tourism, Water and Human Settlement as well as Local Government and Traditional Affairs emphasised the need for the proper and responsible use of antibiotics in both livestock and humans, along with strengthened infection prevention and improved community awareness.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when microbial pathogens evolve, developing mechanisms to evade the actions of antimicrobials, resulting in infections in humans and animals that are no longer sensitive to the treatments available.

Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, highlighted that AMR was the greatest existential threat to humanity after climate change. Dr Dikoloti noted that the world was running out of treatment options as pathogens developed resistance to virtually all antimicrobials.

“This is happening at a much faster rate than new ones are developed or become available to the healthcare system,” he stated.

He pointed out that developing countries like Botswana were particularly vulnerable to the debilitating effects of AMR.

“This is due to underdeveloped healthcare systems that are already under severe strain from the high prevalence of infectious and increasingly non-communicable diseases, all of which require antimicrobials for management,” he said.

Furthermore, he indicated that developing nations facing food insecurity would see the problem worsen as AMR undermined production and productivity. That, he said necessitated developing countries and governments to take AMR seriously.
In agriculture, Dr Dikoloti lamented irresponsible use of antibiotics, including the use of antibiotic growth promoters in animal nutrition, as a major driver of AMR.

He said another significant factor was the blanket use of antibiotics to prevent infections instead of implementing good animal husbandry practices, such as hygiene and vaccination.

He therefore asserted that AMR and other health risks associated with the environment, land, water and agriculture cannot be addressed in isolation but must be tackled holistically through the One Health approach.

He said government was committed to the global effort to combat AMR and planned to continue promoting prudent use of antimicrobials such as antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals across the agriculture, food, environment and health sectors.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ignatius Moswaane, said the ministry would commit to ensuring that local service delivery structures promoted clean and safe environment.

Mr Moswaane emphasised that preventing infections was one of the strongest tools available to reduce the initial need for antimicrobials. ENDS