Multi-sectoral cooperation, technology, innovation, research needed to tackle AMR, says Amina Mohammed
Photo for representation: iStock Finalising the international pandemic treaty is of utmost importance, especially as the world faces the growing health challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said. She was speaking at a multi stakeholder hearing in preparation for the High-level Meeting on AMR on the margins of the General Assembly later this year.
The call came days ahead of the 77th World Health Assembly scheduled for May 27, 2024 where the treaty draft is expected to be refined, and amid resistance from the United Kingdom government regarding certain aspects of the text.
Regarding the latter, the UN health agency World Health Organization (WHO), has advised UK ministers to steer clear of misinformation being spread regarding the treaty, to sway their decision to block it. The treaty, as claimed by some British public personalities and some ministers, will not cede a country’s sovereignty to WHO, the organisation asserted. It also dispelled “myths” regarding the deal’s provisions to let WHO impose lockdown restrictions and control vaccine stocks of any nation.
The pandemic treaty is envisioned to pull together global efforts against new pathogens that pose a danger to public health. The fight against more and more pathogens growing resistant to various classes of antibiotics, rendering them ineffective, is also a vital organ of the international health movement.
“On the heels of COVID-19, public health systems continue to face growing pressures. New resistant pathogens are on the rise and as a result, AMR is jeopardising global gains in healthcare,” said Mohammed, adding:
In 2019, nearly 1.27 million deaths annually were directly linked and 4.9 million deaths were associated with AMR. By 2050 the potential impact is estimated at 10 million annual deaths, dwarfing that of COVID-19.
AMR will exacerbate the food crisis and hurt the economy in various countries, if left unchecked, she flagged.
The antibiotics pipeline drying up has made the future of the fight grim. “Bold political commitment, access to current antibiotics and sustainable financing and investments from all sources,” the expert said.
She called for multi-sectoral cooperation, technology, innovation and research to tackle AMR. “Advocacy, data and accountability mechanisms are also critical for public engagement to be informed of preventive measures.”
The UN system, she added, also mobilised political attention through its Global Health Engagement Strategy, positioning AMR as one of the three main pillars. Learnings on AMR through a One Health approach have also facilitated critical shifts to tackle cross-sectoral challenges, building the case for prevention of disease emergence, at the source, and achieving equity and health for all, the expert noted. “We must use this momentum to also finalise the Global Pandemic Treaty currently under discussion.”
A global coordination will also ensure that the actions against AMR and the solutions are equitable and good for the environment, she noted.
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