World Health Organization Sound Alarm on Antimicrobial Resistance, Calls for Collective Action

New Delhi: As the world marks this year's World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), concerns over antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remain a significant threat to global health. The adoption of the 2024 Political Declaration on AMR at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting and the 4th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference in Jeddah has set a target for at least 60 percent of countries to implement fully funded national action plans by 2030.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Office for South-East Asia (SEARO) is taking steps to address the challenges of AMR in the region, which are influenced by factors such as population density and limited healthcare access. SEARO has co-hosted discussions with partners like the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations Foundation (UNF), and several governments to create an equitable global response to AMR.

World leaders have been urged to transform their commitments into concrete action plans, according to WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed. "Global and regional commitments must lead to specific and measurable outcomes," she said, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials.

SEARO has also collaborated with other regional offices and Japan to endorse a Joint Position Paper on AMR for the Asia-Pacific region. The World Health Organization's call to action serves as a reminder of the urgent need for coordinated efforts to combat AMR and safeguard global health.