Speaking at the Conference, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that what is being discussed is not simply the risk of people dying from superbug infections, “Now they are dying: 1.3 million people every year.”
Arriving in the coastal city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia after participating in the latest UN climate conference, COP29, which is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, Dr Tedros said action against resistance to antimicrobials (AMR) “It is as urgent as climate action.”
He said the Political Declaration on AMR agreed last September by the United Nations General Assembly sets out clear objectives and the task now is to translate them into concrete actions.
The head of the WHO highlighted three priorities to implement that Declaration, particularly for low- and middle-income countries:
- Increase sustainable financing from both national and international sources;
- Increase research, development and innovation to address “the antimicrobial dry line”; and
- increase equitable access to quality antimicrobials, while ensuring their appropriate use.
“The irony of antimicrobial resistance is that it is driven by inappropriate use of antimicrobials and yet large numbers of people also die because they cannot access these medications at all,” said.
Highlighting that antimicrobial resistance “It is here and now, but so are the solutions” Dr Tedros called on stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunity presented at the Jeddah Conference “accelerate action against antimicrobial resistance, commit to closer collaboration and protect the medicines that protect us.”
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites stop reacting to antimicrobial medications. Because drug resistance makes antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments ineffective and makes treating infections more difficult or impossible, this can lead to superbugs that cannot be stopped with drugs that are the first choice for treating diseases. caused by these germs, which increases the risk of disease transmission. serious illness, disability and death.
Fahad Abdulrahman Al Jalajel, Minister of Health of Saudi Arabia, delivers a speech at the opening of the Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in Jeddah.
'Precious gift' of modern medicine
Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jajel warned conference participants that antimicrobial resistance “profoundly affects all aspects of life” and represents a direct threat to public health, economic stability and security. global.
“This challenge knows no borders and affects all ages and groups,” he stated.
Mr. Al-Jajel said that all states participating in the ministerial meeting are “well aware of the magnitude of this challenge and the urgent need to take new measures to address antimicrobial resistance.”
The “Jeddah Declaration” currently being negotiated as the final document of the Conference contains important Saudi initiatives, such as the formation of a global scientific committee to support antimicrobial resistance, the establishment of a “biotechnology bridge” to support research and development, as well as a proposed knowledge center that aims to increase community awareness of antimicrobial resistance.
Mr. Al-Jajel highlighted that at this stage, the draft declaration fulfills the purpose of the Conference theme, “from declaration to implementation.”, and complies with the agreements reached in the political declaration of the General Assembly.
“Without effective antibiotics, we risk losing the advances of modern medicine. “We owe it to future generations to preserve this precious gift.” said.
A scientist in Venezuela is investigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), considered one of the top 10 threats to global public health, which occurs when viruses change over time and no longer respond to medications.
Antimicrobial resistance transcends health
Dr Hanan Al Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said AMR is not an issue that is covered solely by the health-related third Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3), but the agenda on AMR is found in at least 11 of the 17 global goals: from food production to equity.
That is why multi-sector talks like those taking place in Jeddah are so important, he said. “draw the attention of stakeholders working on other SDGs that, indeed, antimicrobial resistance should not be forgotten on their agendas.”
talking to UN NewsDr Al Balkhy said that, as a Saudi citizen, she was very proud that the Jeddah Declaration and the commitments that will be adopted on Saturday at the close of the conference “come from my hometown, where I grew up and where I did my studies.”
The Jeddah Conference, he said, is about partnerships, sharing experiences and understanding better forms of communication, adding that bending the curve, even a little, on antimicrobial resistance “It would be a great achievement.”
Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, during an interview with UN News at the 4th Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Challenging even in peacetime
Dr Al Balkhy said the fight to address antimicrobial resistance is a “A very heavy agenda in times of peace, and it is even heavier in conflicts” as people lack the proper hygiene and health tools to stay safe and avoid creating a breeding ground for antimicrobial resistance.
With conflicts rampant in the area she works in, the Regional Director said the WHO said she would continue to be “a strong voice in upholding international law and not attacking healthcare facilities, which is considered a important investment for access to health, and not attack health workers who are essential to providing adequate medical care.”
He said the WHO is trying to be “as innovative as possible” protect people in conflict zones from the spread of AMR, including by providing clean water and mitigating the challenges of open defecation.
Bacteria are here to stay
Ms Al Balkhy has dedicated much of her studies and career to combating antimicrobial resistance and therefore understands the difficulty of addressing this global health challenge.
She said: “Bacteria have a goal in life. They will survive. They survived before us and, unfortunately, they could be surviving millions of years after us. “So the smartest thing we can do is at least catch up with the evolution of these microbes and make sure that we don't harm ourselves with the machinery and equipment to become resistant to these very critical therapies.”
Mr Thanawat Tiesin, Director of FAO's Animal Production and Health Division and Chief Veterinarian, speaks to UN News at the Fourth High-Level Global Ministerial Conference on AMR.
she said UN News who hoped that the international community could reach a point where it was no longer consumed by war and could focus on “development, prosperity, advanced healthcare, [so that] “We are not concerned that these bacteria will set back advances in healthcare by decades.”
'Real change' on the ground
Another conference attendee, Thanawat Tiensin, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said his organization would like to ensure that countries, producers, farmers, the private sector, Academia and other stakeholders take their own initiatives to reduce the need for antimicrobials in agriculture.
Through collective action, he stressed, “More can be done to ensure better health outcomes for people and animals.”
Mr. Tiensin, who also serves as the organization's chief veterinarian, said UN News on several FAO initiatives that serve this purpose, including RENOFARM (Reducing the need for antimicrobials on farms).
Others he mentioned were InFarm (FAO's International Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System) and the Global Farmer Field School Platform.
All of these initiatives serve as tools to build sustainable agri-food systems and transfer knowledge and best practices directly to the people who can make real changes on the ground.
With approximately 70 percent of antibiotics used in livestock production, aquaculture and plant production, Mr. Tiensin said: “If we want to control the problem of antimicrobial resistance, we must control it at the root. “We need to change the way we produce food and by doing so we can ensure we can feed 8 billion people today and 10 billion people in 2050.”
