Mbabane: The Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi has officially launched Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicine List (STG/EML) for adults and pediatrics.
The document outlines the recommended treatment options for specific diseases and the range of medical conditions commonly experienced in Eswatini.
The Ministry also received support from the Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management project, which assisted in the development of an STG/EML App, which will be used by health facilities to report stock imbalances or adverse events from medicines following immunization and can be used as a resource centre.
Minister Nkosi said, “I do believe that the STG/EML will help in ensuring the rational use of medicine in the Ministry and the country at large. This will save resources, save lives, and will slow down the emergence of resistant strains of antimicrobial, which the Ministry together with stakeholders were raising awareness of yesterday and throughout the past week.”
WHO Representative Dr. Khosi Mthethwa said they applauded the Ministry of Health on this milestone.
Dr. Mthethwa further added, “We, however, wish to mention the importance of strengthening National Referral and Linkages across the levels of health service delivery as the guideline clearly states the levels at which certain medicines can be prescribed and accessed by patients.”
Earlier this week, Minister Nkosi urged emaSwati to take or prescribe antibiotics ‘only when needed and to treat bacterial infections.’ She had been speaking at the commemoration of World Antimicrobials Awareness Week (WAAW) held under the theme, ‘Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance.’
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