Pharmacy and Poisons Board highlights dangers of misusing antibiotics
By Faith Lagat, November 21, 2025The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has stepped up public education efforts during World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW), warning Kenyans against practices that contribute to drug-resistant infections.
In posts on its official X account @ppbkenya, the regulatory body urged strict adherence to prescribed antibiotic use. “Marking World #AMR Awareness Week. Do not demand or share antibiotics. Complete the prescribed dose. Responsible use saves lives,” the Board stated on November 21, 2025.
The PPB added: “World #AMR Awareness Week continues. Never buy antibiotics over the counter or take them without proper guidance. Unregulated use accelerates antimicrobial resistance.”
Rising threat of antimicrobial resistance
The Board’s campaign highlighted the growing threat of AMR, explaining that antimicrobials, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitic agents, are losing effectiveness due to overuse and misuse.
“Antimicrobials, once effective, are now losing their power due to years of overuse and misuse, leading us toward a global health crisis, with once-treatable infections now becoming fatal for people, plants, and animals,” the PPB stated on November 19.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to treatments, making infections harder or impossible to treat. This increases the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death, posing a threat to health systems, food security, and economies.
Global and national efforts to combat AMR
World AMR Awareness Week, commemorated annually from November 18 to 24, is a global initiative mandated by the World Health Assembly to raise awareness and promote action against drug-resistant pathogens.
The 2025 theme, “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” calls for urgent, united action across governments, civil society, healthcare providers, veterinarians, farmers, environmental actors, and the public.
The PPB noted that Kenya’s efforts align with the global campaign, emphasising responsible antimicrobial use to preserve life-saving medicines for current and future generations. The campaign advocates for strengthening surveillance, ensuring equitable access to quality medicines and diagnostics, fostering innovation, and building resilient health systems.
Through its ongoing messages, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board continues to urge the public to handle antimicrobials responsibly, prevent infections, and safeguard the effectiveness of these medicines.