Antimicrobial resistance crisis ‘happening now,’ WHO’s Tedros stresses at Jeddah summit
November 15, 2024
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia—The world is facing an antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis that is “happening now,” World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned at the Second Global Ministerial Conference on AMR, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 15-17, 2024.
Dr. Tedros stressed that AMR is a major threat to global health, food security, and sustainable development. He called on countries to take urgent action to address the crisis, including investing in research and development of new antibiotics, improving infection prevention and control measures, and promoting responsible use of antibiotics in humans and animals.
“AMR is a silent pandemic that is killing millions of people each year,” Dr. Tedros said. “It is a threat to our health, our economies, and our security. We need to act now to avert a global catastrophe.”
The conference brought together ministers of health and other government officials from around the world, as well as experts from academia, industry, and civil society. The participants discussed the latest developments in AMR and explored ways to accelerate progress toward achieving the goals of the WHO’s Global Action Plan on AMR.
One of the key outcomes of the conference was the adoption of the Jeddah Declaration on AMR, which calls for countries to:
- Strengthen political commitment to AMR and allocate sufficient resources to address the crisis.
- Implement the WHO’s Global Action Plan on AMR and develop national action plans that are tailored to their specific needs.
- Invest in research and development of new antibiotics and other tools to combat AMR.
- Improve infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings and communities.
- Promote responsible use of antibiotics in humans and animals.
- Strengthen surveillance and monitoring systems to track the spread of AMR.
- Foster collaboration between governments, academia, industry, and civil society to address AMR.
The Jeddah Declaration is a landmark agreement that provides a roadmap for countries to address the AMR crisis. It is a testament to the growing recognition of the importance of AMR and the need for urgent action.
However, much work remains to be done. Countries need to translate the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration into concrete actions. They need to invest in research and development, strengthen their health systems, and promote responsible use of antibiotics. Only through a concerted effort can we hope to avert the global catastrophe that AMR poses.
Additional information:
- The WHO estimates that AMR is responsible for 1.27 million deaths each year, a number that is expected to rise to 10 million by 2050.
- AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become resistant to the drugs that are used to treat them. This can make infections difficult or impossible to treat, leading to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and even death.
- The overuse and misuse of antibiotics is a major driver of AMR. Antibiotics are often prescribed for viral infections, such as the common cold, which they are ineffective against. Antibiotics are also used in livestock to promote growth and prevent disease, even when the animals are not sick.
- There are a number of things that can be done to address the AMR crisis, including:
- Investing in research and development of new antibiotics and other tools to combat AMR.
- Improving infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings and communities.
- Promoting responsible use of antibiotics in humans and animals.
- Strengthening surveillance and monitoring systems to track the spread of AMR.
- Fostering collaboration between governments, academia, industry, and civil society to address AMR.
Antimicrobial resistance crisis ‘happening now,’ WHO’s Tedros stresses at Jeddah summit
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