World leaders set clear goals at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), including reducing the estimated 4.95 million deaths associated with bacterial antibiotics. Approved a political declaration pledging action. Resistance (AMR) will increase by 10% annually by 2030.
The declaration also calls for sustainable national finances and the provision of US$100 million in catalytic funding to achieve the goal of at least 60% of countries funding national action plans on AMR by 2030. There is. This goal should be achieved, for example, by diversification. Secure funding sources and secure more donors to the Antimicrobial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
The declaration has been welcomed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The Quadrilateral Member States are committed to a global initiative to address AMR through a One Health approach that recognizes that the health of the broader environment, including people, animals, plants, and ecosystems, are closely linked and interdependent. We commend countries that recognize the need for regional and national efforts.
Global advocates participating in the conference include Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, AMR survivors, civil society, and stakeholder organizations from around the world.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become unresponsive to drugs, making the infection difficult or impossible to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severity, and death.
Achieving the goals by 2030 requires multi-sectoral global action
Regarding human health, this declaration states that at least 70% of antibiotics used for human health worldwide must be classified as antibiotics in the WHO Access Group, which have relatively minimal side effects and are unlikely to cause AMR. We have set a more ambitious goal of belonging to the.
It also includes targets for infection prevention and control (IPC): by 2030, 100% of countries will have basic water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management services in all health facilities; countries meet all WHO minimum requirements for IPC programmes. There are also investments to promote equitable access and appropriate use of antibiotics and efforts to report surveillance data on antibiotic use and AMR across the sector.
With respect to agriculture and animal health, this declaration includes: By 2030, by prioritizing and funding the implementation of measures for infectious disease prevention and control and ensuring careful and responsible evidence; It promises to meaningfully reduce the amount of antibiotics used in global agricultural and food systems. Based on the use of antimicrobials in animal health. This will be achieved within the context of the WOAH priority disease list and FAO’s RENOFARM initiative, as well as prevention strategies such as animal vaccination strategies, good husbandry practices, biosecurity, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). It will be.
Regarding the environment, this declaration emphasizes the need to prevent and address the release of antimicrobial substances into the environment. We also call for increased research and knowledge on the environmental aspects of AMR, and catalytic actions to address the main sources of antimicrobial contamination.
The Declaration recognizes that AMR is a complex problem and recognizes the need for a multisectoral response that combines human, agricultural, animal, and environmental sector-specific interventions.
“The cross-sectoral challenge of AMR requires a One Health systems approach that integrates human, animal, plant and environmental health, underpinned by strong and responsible global AMR governance. Local, national and regional contexts While recognizing that sustainable, consistent and diversified funding is essential to support clear priorities and measurable goals for decisive action, we encourage preventive action. We must invest in research, innovation, capacity building and bold awareness initiatives, while ensuring universal access to medicines, treatments and diagnostics. Food security depends on efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agricultural systems. We have remained steadfast in our mission to ensure food security. We fully support this declaration and remain committed to collective action to eliminate AMR risks in agriculture and food systems,” said FAO Director-General QU. Dongyu said.
“There is increasing evidence that the environment plays an important role in the onset, spread, and transmission of AMR, including human-to-human and animal-to-human transmission. If we want to reduce risks, why must the environment be part of the solution? Today’s declaration recognizes this need, and UNEP aims to reduce the burden of AMR on society and protect the triple planet. We remain at the forefront of efforts to tackle the crisis,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.
“A century after Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in a London laboratory, antibiotics have become a mainstay of medicine, turning once-fatal infections into treatable and curable conditions,” WHO said Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Antimicrobial resistance threatens to reverse its course and is arguably one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. Today’s declaration includes the following: It contains important promises to help reduce the spread of cancer, expand access to antibiotics and other antibacterial drugs, and accelerate the development of new drugs.”
“Antibiotics help animals and humans live longer and healthier lives, but many of these life-saving drugs are dangerously losing their effectiveness, not only to human health but also to livestock and the economy as a whole. It has had a devastating impact,” said the WOAH director. General Emmanuel Soubeyran. “Urgent action is needed and we welcome the numerous commitments made by countries through this political declaration. Prioritizing preventive measures against infectious diseases in animals is of paramount importance. That is why WOAH We will continue to support countries by developing guidelines, evaluating policy frameworks for antibiotic prescribing, and supporting the implementation of biosecurity and vaccination programs for priority diseases that will help reduce the need for antibiotics.” said.
clear progress
The Declaration formalizes the permanent Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR as the central coordination mechanism to support the global response to AMR. Through a One Health approach, we will also work with countries to encourage the Quadripartite Group to implement the Global Plan of Action (GAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance by 2026 to ensure a robust, comprehensive and multisectoral response. We are requesting that you update. The declaration also empowers the four parties to follow up and report on the implementation of the GAP and the results of the political declaration.
It also acknowledges the important contribution of global AMR governance mechanisms, including the Global Leaders Group and the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform, and in particular strengthens the latter to leverage multisectoral experience, best practices and and is committed to facilitating the exchange of evaluations. Member States’ progress in implementing multisectoral national action plans on AMR. The Four Parties are pleased to accept the Declaration’s request to establish an independent commission of evidence for action against AMR in 2025, following global consultation with countries. The panel will support countries tackling AMR.
The declaration highlights key aspects such as the importance of access to medicines, treatments and diagnostics, as well as incentives and funding to foster multidisciplinary health research, innovation and development to address AMR. I’m looking for a mechanism. Stronger and more transparent partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as academia, are important.
The declaration also leverages existing global systems such as the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) and WOAH’s Global Database on Antimicrobial Use in Animals (ANIMUSE) to improve antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use. Countries are encouraged to report high-quality monitoring data on use by 2030. , and International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring (InFARM). It also requires 95% of countries to report annually on the implementation of their AMR National Action Plans through the Tracking AMR Country Self-Assessment Survey (TrACSS).
Editor’s note: The words of FAO Director-General QU Dongyu were edited shortly after this news release was first published.
