Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when antimicrobial drugs — antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, antiparasitics — are used inappropriately, causing mutations in pathogenic microbes which reduce efficacy to treat diseases. AMR already kills an estimated 700,000 people every year — in what has been described is called a ‘silent pandemic’ or ‘slow tsunami’ -- compromising effective treatment of infectious diseases, the global economy and hindering progress of health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Stakeholders are encouraged to spread awareness about what AMR is, share stories and experience about its consequences, and demonstrate how the actions of individuals, families, professionals, and communities can slow the spread of AMR, and help reverse a dangerous trend.

AMR is a complex problem affecting human, animal, plant and environmental health. Therefore, addressing AMR requires a holistic, multisectoral approach across sectors – sometimes referred to as a One Health approach. By designing and implementing multi-sectoral programmes, policies, legislation and implementation research across human, terrestrial, aquatic animal & plant health, food & feed production and the environment, AMR can be effectively addressed to achieve better outcomes. 

The South East Asia Region of WHO has shown substantial progress against AMR. All SEAR Member States (11) have developed - and are implementing -  multisectoral national action plans to address AMR.  Almost all SEAR Member States have multisectoral AMR working groups, and a majority of these are functional. To monitor implementation progress of national action plans, annual Tripartite AMR Country Self-Assessment Surveys (or TrACSS), and biennial One Health situational analyses have been implemented since 2017.