Within the framework of the European Day for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, which is celebrated every November 18 with the aim of raising awareness among the population on this issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed its concern about antimicrobial resistance, warning that they have ceased to be a “threat” against public health and have become a reality that needs to be addressed urgently.
Thus, during the Fourth Global Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, the Director General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the debate is not only about the risk of people dying as a result of infections by superbugs, but “1.3 million people are already dying every year,” and he added that taking measures to prevent this “is as urgent as climate action.”
From Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tedros referred to the Political Declaration on antimicrobial resistance that was adopted in September by the UN General Assembly and which establishes clear goals in this area, and pointed out that now the challenge is to turn these objectives into concrete actions.
To achieve this, especially in the case of countries with fewer economic resources, it has identified three priority areas, which are: increasing sustainable financing through national and international sources, promoting research, development and innovation, and guaranteeing access equitable access to quality antimicrobials, ensuring responsible use.
“The paradox of antimicrobial resistance is that it is driven by the inappropriate use of antimicrobials and yet large numbers of people also die because they cannot access these medications”
“The paradox of antimicrobial resistance is that it is driven by the inappropriate use of antimicrobials and yet large numbers of people also die because they cannot access these medicines,” explained Tedros, who called for taking advantage of the opportunities for conference in Jeddah to accelerate action, strengthen collaboration and protect life-saving medicines.
Collective actions to combat antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites become resistant to drugs developed to combat them, reducing the effectiveness of treatments and causing previously treatable diseases to become more serious threats, increasing the risk of transmission, complications and deaths.
The Saudi Minister of Health, Fahad Al-Jajel, warned that this problem influences all aspects of life, including public health, economic stability and global security, and highlighted that the countries that have participated in the conference recognize the magnitude of the challenge and the need to take urgent action.
In this context, the Jeddah Declaration, which is negotiated as a result of the conference, includes key initiatives such as the creation of a global scientific committee and a “biotechnology bridge” to promote research and development, and a knowledge center aimed to raise awareness about the problem.
Hanan Al Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, pointed out that antimicrobial resistance not only affects the third Sustainable Development Goal, related to health, but influences at least 11 of the 17 global goals, such as production food and equity.
He also pointed out that, in conflict contexts, where sanitary conditions are precarious, the fight against antimicrobial resistance becomes even more complicated, which is why he advocated respecting international law and protecting health care centers and their workers.
For his part, Thanawat Tiensin, deputy director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), stressed that the use of antibiotics in livestock, aquaculture and agricultural production represents approximately 70% of total consumption and defended transform agri-food systems to reduce this dependence and guarantee the nutrition of the world population, which is expected to reach 10 billion people by 2050.
Tiensin highlighted initiatives such as RENOFARM, which aims to decrease the need for antimicrobials on farms, and the Global Farmer Field School Platform, designed to share knowledge and sustainable practices directly with those who can drive meaningful change. With collective action and firm commitments it is possible to address this global crisis and protect the health of people, animals and the planet, he concluded.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
