7th April is World Health Day. This year’s theme is antiretroviral resistance, which in simple terms is the body or bacteria building up a resistance to drugs which work against viruses such as HIV.
Drug resistance is a huge barrier to the control of diseases and viruses and is an issue which needs to be addressed if we are to help people live their life and in some cases, cure them of the condition that they are suffering from.
Viruses and bacteria gain resistance to drugs by mutating, which in turn makes it stronger. This could become worse because if these viruses aren’t controlled, diseases and infections may become uncontrollable.
So what causes the mutation and resistance?
One of the main problems is the misuse of drugs or the wrong type of drugs. Many people suffering from a condition may not be able to afford the best quality drug and may resort to using the black market for their drug supply. The use of these drugs can make the virus or infection build up resistance, so when the right drug is used, it has no affect.
We need to work harder with the pharmaceutical companies, governments and aid agencies to lower drug prices so that all people who need it can get the highest quality drugs.
This World Health Day lets highlight what we can do collectively to reduce antiretroviral resistance to ensure that diseases and infections can be eradicated with ease.
For more information visit the World Health Day website.
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