UN General Assembly signs declaration to tackle global problem

September saw the United Nations General Assembly convene in New York together with world leaders for a one day High-Level meeting, which was also attended by Professor Alison Holmes, NIHR Director at the Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Infections (HCAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The meeting was held to discuss how to take decisive action to stop this growing global challenge and threat to human health, food production, the environment and growth and development. 

For the first time Heads of States pledged their commitment to international cooperation to combat this global problem and develop national action plans on AMR Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance—the blueprint for tackling AMR developed in 2015 by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Antimicrobial resistance poses a fundamental threat to human health, development, and security. The commitments made today must now be translated into swift, effective, lifesaving actions across the human, animal and environmental health sectors. We are running out of time,” said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.

World leaders reaffirmed their commitment to:

• strengthen regulation of antimicrobials,
• improve knowledge and awareness,
• promote best practices
• foster innovative approaches using alternatives to antimicrobials and new technologies for diagnosis and vaccines

Without taking this decisive action and commitment common and life threatening illnesses such as pneumonia, gonorrhoea, and post-operative infections, as well as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria are increasingly becoming untreatable because of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Countries called for better use of existing, cost-effective tools for preventing infections in humans and animals.

The importance of  affordability  and access to existing and new antibiotics, vaccines and other medical tools  were also highlighted in discussions and it was felt that this should be a global priority that considers the needs of all countries.