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) – Ameeting was held in Hanoi on August 2 to launch Vietnam’s national action planfor the reduction of antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in livestockproduction and aquaculture in the 2017-2020 period.
Funded by the US Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID), the action plan was built with technical support of the UNFood and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
It aims to review, amend and implementregulations and policies relating to antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobialuse in animal husbandry and aquaculture, while raising the awareness ofantimicrobial use and the risk of antimicrobial resistance infections amongfarmers, workers in the agricultural and food industries, and consumers.
The action plan looks to promote good practicesin 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 resistancemanagement among sectors is also set to be facilitated under the nationalaction plan.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Vu Van Tam said the use of antibiotics in livestock production inVietnam hasn’t been strictly monitored, especially in pig and poultry farming.The inappropriate use of antibiotics will lead to antibiotic resistance andresidues in food.
[WHO urges more efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance]
USAID Vietnam Deputy Mission Director Craig Hartsaid the launch of the action plan is a very important step, but its successdepends on the compliance with and enforcement of law when necessary.
FAO representative in Vietnam Jong-ha Bae saidantimicrobial resistance threatens the health and livelihoods of Vietnamesepeople, as well as the sustainability of agriculture, food production and theenvironment.
He added farmers, veterinarians, and veterinarymedicine sellers should share responsibility by using antibiotics moreresponsibly, seek alternatives to raise farming productivity, and improvebiological safety and practices in animal husbandry.-VNA
VNA
