USAID Vietnam Deputy Mission Director Craig Hart speaks at the meeting to launch Vietnam’s national action plan for the reduction of antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in livestock production and aquaculture (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A
meeting was held in Hanoi on August 2 to launch Vietnam’s national action plan
for the reduction of antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in livestock
production and aquaculture in the 2017-2020 period.
Funded by the US Agency for International
Development (USAID), the action plan was built with technical support of the UN
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
It aims to review, amend and implement
regulations and policies relating to antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial
use in animal husbandry and aquaculture, while raising the awareness of
antimicrobial use and the risk of antimicrobial resistance infections among
farmers, workers in the agricultural and food industries, and consumers.
The action plan looks to promote good practices
in medical examination and treatment, animal feed production, animal farming,
and aquaculture. It will also supervise antimicrobial use, antibiotic residues,
and antimicrobial resistance in livestock production and aquaculture.
Cooperation in antimicrobial resistance
management among sectors is also set to be facilitated under the national
action plan.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development Vu Van Tam said the use of antibiotics in livestock production in
Vietnam hasn’t been strictly monitored, especially in pig and poultry farming.
The inappropriate use of antibiotics will lead to antibiotic resistance and
residues in food.
[WHO urges more efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance]
USAID Vietnam Deputy Mission Director Craig Hart
said the launch of the action plan is a very important step, but its success
depends on the compliance with and enforcement of law when necessary.
FAO representative in Vietnam Jong-ha Bae said
antimicrobial resistance threatens the health and livelihoods of Vietnamese
people, as well as the sustainability of agriculture, food production and the
environment.
He added farmers, veterinarians, and veterinary
medicine sellers should share responsibility by using antibiotics more
responsibly, seek alternatives to raise farming productivity, and improve
biological safety and practices in animal husbandry.-VNA