As part of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, an event presenting the activites of the Tripartite + UNEP addressing AMR was held on 24 November, titled “AMR Storytellers from the Asia-Pacific“. The event was held on Zoom and live streamed on YouTube.
Antimicrobials are vital to protect animal health and welfare. However, overuse and misuse of these agents is increasing development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on a global scale. In November 2016, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) launched its “Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance and the Prudent Use of Antimicrobials” to help combat this rise in AMR.
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is held annually from 18-24 November. Since last year, the scope was broadened from “antibiotics” to “antimicrobials”. In recognition of the need to raise renewed popular and political awareness of, and commitment to, tackling the emergence of AMR, the Tripartite (FAO, WHO, and WOAH) announced a theme for the WAAW 2021 campaign: “Spread awareness, stop resistance”. As in previous years, the overall slogan for AMR awareness and WAAW is “Antimicrobials: Handle with care”.
With the theme “Spread awareness, stop resistance”, we intend to encourage stakeholders in human, animal, and environmental health sectors to be champions of the global AMR response, among their families, communities, and places of work. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage with global and regional campaign activities, and to organise their own events and forums to share knowledge about what antimicrobial resistance is, its consequences, and how the actions of households, professionals, and communities can affect the control or spread of AMR.
WAAW is about raising awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training. As such, our organisation is encouraging Members to organise communication campaigns on AMR through that week. The purpose is to highlight activities performed within regions on a global scale, particularly in dissemination of important messages on AMR. We always ask Members and related partners to share details of any WAAW related activities being undertaken (email [email protected]).
