Richard Kwamena Abbiw, a PhD candidate at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), has sounded the alarm over the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, describing it as a looming public health crisis.
In an interview on Campus Exclusive on May 21, Mr. Abbiw cautioned that the increasing resistance of bacteria to commonly used antibiotics could severely limit treatment options in the event of an outbreak, posing a serious risk to public health.
“My research indicates a high prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria. “If an outbreak were to occur involving these pathogens, treatment would be extremely difficult. The antibiotics we tested—many of which are routinely used in humans and animals—are showing resistance. That suggests if we rely on these drugs during an actual health emergency, they may prove ineffective.”
He further expressed concern about Ghana’s current health focus, warning that national attention may be disproportionately directed at diseases that pose less of a threat, while more widespread and urgent issues are being overlooked.
“Ghana may be focusing on the wrong health priorities. It’s dangerous when all the resources and funding go toward disease X, which may affect only a small fraction of the population, while disease Y, which is far more prevalent, receives little attention. That kind of misjudgment leaves us vulnerable.”
Richard Kwamena Abbiw also underscored the need for policymakers and health authorities to shift their focus and invest in addressing antibiotic resistance and other under-prioritized but critical health challenges.
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Story by: Gabriel Opoku | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by: Wahab Abdul Razak
