Ministry of Agriculture and Mayor of Metro together with Lampung Layer Farmer Association and international organisations were campaigning For The Safe and Healthy Eggs Consumption (Credit: FAO/ Ayunita Mahdy)

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), in collaboration with Livestock and Animal Health Services for Lampung Province, Food Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Services for Metro City, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Lampung Layer Farmer Association (PPN) socialize the consumption of antimicrobial residues-free poultry products (eggs and chicken) to meet people's nutritional needs at the peak of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) commemoration in Metro, Lampung (24/11).

On this occasion, Nasrullah, Director General of Livestock and Animal Health of the Ministry of Agriculture said that antimicrobial resistance is a threat to public health because it can be disseminate through the food chain. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with FAO in recent years has tried to persuade various parties to be concern and contribute in combating the rate of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as well as promoting safe and high-quality poultry products for the society.

Nasrullah also conveyed his appreciation for the achievements of Lampung Province in preventing AMR. "We appreciate Lampung Province’s strong commitment, including from the associations and poultry farmers in this province to combat antimicrobial resistance, through various efforts to implement the good practices for animal products supply," said Nasrullah.

Wahdi Siradjuddin, Mayor of Metro also stated in his remarks, "We need to collaborate with all parties and encourage changes in behavior for the prudent use of antimicrobials and create a society that fond to consume eggs for people to be prosperous and healthy."

For the information, in 2019, fourteen-layer farmers in Lampung have implemented 3-zone biosecurity on their farms and earned government food hygiene and sanitation certificates, known as Veterinary Control Numbers or NKV.

"Certainly, we all want our society to be healthy, eggs especially, are a source of animal protein which is affordable and easy to process and our bodies need sufficient protein to be healthy," said Nasrullah. Thus, Nasrullah also advised that people consume eggs that are safe and of good quality to be consumed.

On the same occasion, Jenni Soelistiani, Chairperson of the PPN Lampung said, "We hope that in the future, PPN can continue to work closely with the government and FAO to support small to large scale farmers in improving their farm management and implementing good animal husbandry practices based on their capacities and respective resources to produce safe and healthy poultry products.”

As part of this year's WAAW commemoration, a series of events were also held to reaffirm and support Indonesia's commitment to combatting AMR. Commencing this year's WAAW, the MoA together with FAO held a seminar in Makassar (19/11) involving various stakeholders to act in preventing AMR in poultry farms.

Farmers are key players in reducing antimicrobial resistance, so a joint declaration signed by Makassar poultry farmers, associations, academics and the local government marks as initial step to support the prevention efforts. Small-scale farmers are also encouraged to improve farm hygiene and biosecurity to obtain NKV certification, hence produce antimicrobials residue-free poultry products.

Furthermore, MoA in collaboration with FAO as member of quadripartite also supported private sectors declaration in Jakarta (22/11) to prevent AMR together. The declaration highlighted several points of commitment to implement the AMR prevention efforts by the poultry and pharmacy industries.  

Nasrullah also said that, going forward, the Indonesian government will cooperate with multi-stakeholders to encourage investment in alternative antimicrobial innovations, more equitable access to vaccines and improve surveillance, as echoed at the Minister of Health meeting on AMR at the G20 forum. "By working together, Indonesia will better protect its food systems, livelihoods and economy from the destabilizing forces caused by AMR," he said.

FAO interventions on AMR prevention 

Since 2016, MoA together with FAO has been implementing intervention programmes related to AMR prevention and control through strengthening the prudent use of antimicrobials, 3-zone biosecurity and sanitation-hygiene interventions, AMU/AMR surveillance system, and AMR awareness-raising campaign across Indonesia. These are in line with Indonesia's national action plan for AMR control which was drafted by involving ministries/agencies across relevant sectors.

In this event, Luuk Schoonman, FAO Emergencies Center for Transboundary Diseases Indonesia Team Leader at the talk show emphasizes in addressing the global threat of AMR through a coordinated, multi-sectoral and inclusive One Health approach is very important as echoed by G20 members at the G20 meeting on AMR this year.

Luuk added, “FAO is prepared to support the Indonesian government and all stakeholders to increase the capacities of the food and agriculture sectors in managing AMR risks and building resilience to AMR impacts with the support of USAID, while ensuring the safety of poultry products in Indonesia.”

USAID Health Officer, Vivian Olabamiji, noted that, “The AMR silent pandemic and COVID-19 have shed a light on the importance of infection prevention and control – in Indonesia and beyond – to better protect lives and livelihoods and the need to continue working together to prepare, prevent, detect, and respond to the next pandemic.”