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Key Priorities to Address Antimicrobial Resistance in Dominican Republic
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As part of the project financed by the European Union through the Caribbean Investment Facility (CIF) and implemented by Expertise France, the Dominican Republic is strengthening its national strategy against antimicrobial resistance. On the occasion of the national campaign launched for the World AMR Awareness Week, Vice-Minister of Public Health Dr Eladio Pérez reflects on the country’s priorities, identified risks and the technical support shaping the response.
Why is antimicrobial resistance a strategic priority for the Ministry of Health today?
Because it threatens fundamental achievements of modern medicine and the country’s health security. Antimicrobial resistance undermines our ability to treat common infections and increases the risks linked to surgeries, childbirth, transplantations, cancer treatment and intensive care. An infection that used to be simple can become prolonged, costly or fatal if antibiotics stop working.
Several factors explain the urgency for the Dominican Republic: widespread self-medication, prescriptions that do not always follow clinical guidelines, distribution channels that facilitate access to antimicrobials without proper control, and veterinary use that, in some cases, still includes antimicrobials as growth promoters. Added to this are risks of transmission through food, the environment and direct contact.
It’s not that bacteria “think”, but they evolve fast: they adapt, mutate and become resistant when we misuse antibiotics. If we do not act, they will continue gaining ground. Our role is to regain the advantage. The national AMR plan, the One Health approach, improved surveillance and this campaign are designed precisely to reverse the trend and preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials for future generations.