TOPIC : Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
7)What do you understand by Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials (HPCIAs). Also, discuss role of livestock rearing in antibiotic resistance among humans.(250 words)
Why this question
Antibiotic resistance is a serious issue and more so for India, given its poor health infrastructure, a large population of unprivileged and vulnerable people and widespread misuse of antibiotics in animal rearing. The question is related to GS-3 syllabus under the following heading-
Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to give a proper and complete-in-meaning description of HPCIAs. Then it wants us to discuss how animal rearing is associated with antibiotic resistance among humans.
Directive word
What- we have to provide a description of the term.
Discuss- we have to look into the details and identify the prevalence of and reasons behind antibiotic abuse in livestock rearing.
Structure of the answer
Introduction- give a proper, concise and complete-in-meaning description of HPCIAs along with some examples of class of drugs.
Body– divide the body into three parts.
- discuss the prevalence of use and major uses of antibiotics in livestock rearing. e.g for treating diseases, as growth stimulators, environmental sources etc.
- discuss why there is misuse of antibiotics- e.g lack of knowledge about proper usage, over the counter sale of antibiotics, necessary for extracting decent profit from large intensive poultry and pig farms, etc.
- briefly discuss the effects of antibiotic resistance in humans.
Conclusion– briefly mention alternatives to antibiotics usage in livestock rearing- e.g better health and hygiene, scientific management, incentivization of organic products, harnessing traditional knowledge on livestock medicine etc.
