This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
Kenyans Die from Common Infections as Antibiotics Fail ¶
June 22, 2020
Kenya is facing a growing crisis as Kenyans die from common infections due to the failure of antibiotics to cure them. The widespread misuse and overconsumption of antibiotics have led to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making it difficult for doctors to treat patients.
According to Dr. Paul Yonga, an infectious disease specialist, the problem is not just limited to hospitals. He says that even in chemists, especially those located in low-income areas, patients are likely to walk out with an antibiotic, whether they have a flu, headache, or stomach pain.
"An antibiotic is like a gift. But in Kenya, it is dished out like sweets," Dr. Yonga says. "The more Kenyans misuse antibiotics, the more these drugs become ineffective."
Dr. Yonga's comments are echoed by Dr. Frederick Wangai, the lead researcher in the Kenyatta National Hospital study "Bridging antimicrobial resistance knowledge gaps: The East African perspective on a global problem" published in February. Dr. Wangai says that there is an overwhelming resistance noted to commonly used antibiotics such as penicillin.
Research from Kenyatta National Hospital shows that quite a number of antibiotics are no longer effectively curing simple illnesses such as UTIs and upper respiratory diseases. The study found that some antibiotics, such as carbapenems, which are highly-effective antibiotics used in severe infections, are not working yet they are crucial as doctors' medicinal arsenal.
Dr. Daniella Munene, the chief executive of Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya, says that the most affected areas, where sellers illegally dispense antibiotics without a doctor's prescription, are urban slums. In Nairobi's Kibera slums, Joseph Ouma, runs a small chemist-cum-laboratory, which he plans to expand to house a one-bed ward.
"I treat typhoid, H Pylori, malaria, syphilis, UTIs and others," Mr. Ouma says. "I have a lab where I mostly do malaria tests. But when a patient has no money for the diagnostic tests, I weigh which antibiotics to give."
Mr. Ouma's comments highlight the lack of regulation in the sale of antibiotics in Kenya. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that one in 10 medicines in low and middle-income countries like Kenya is either substandard or falsified, and these drugs find their way into unregistered chemists.
Dr. Serufusa Sekidde, who works at GlaxoSmithKline as the Director Policy and Partnerships (AMR) Global Corporate Government Affairs and Policy/ GSK China Institute of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, says that falsified patented and generic medicines are a public health threat.
"GSK recognises that we have an important role to play in helping to minimise the falsifying of our products, including exercising our trademark rights. We are committed to combat this, including packaging features designed to help detection," Dr. Sekidde said.
