In parts of western Uganda and other East African areas, many small farmers use antibiotics on their animals. Some farmers do not have regular visits from veterinarians and treat sick birds or animals themselves. Veterinary services can be hard to reach and expensive, so farmers often act quickly to save their animals.
Farmers use antibiotics to prevent disease, to treat sick animals and sometimes to make animals grow faster. They add medicines to water or feed and sometimes give lower doses or cheaper drugs. These practices, together with poverty and weak rules, help resistant bacteria to grow and spread.
Experts call for better checks of veterinary medicines, more local education and rules that require proper prescriptions.
Difficult words
- antibiotic — medicine that kills or stops bacteriaantibiotics
- veterinarian — a trained medical doctor for animalsveterinarians
- prevent — to stop illness or problems before they start
- resistant — not killed by a medicine
- prescription — a written order to give a medicineprescriptions
- poverty — the state of being very poor
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why might veterinary services be hard to reach in some areas?
- What problems can happen if farmers give lower doses or cheaper drugs?
- What could help farmers use medicines more safely in their animals?
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