The World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific Region continues to scale-up efforts in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Left unaddressed, antimicrobial resistance has the potential to increase the cost of health care, hamper the control of infectious diseases and damage trade and economies.
“All government sectors and society must take action to avoid a new post-antibiotic era,” said WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Dr Shin Young-soo. “Regional collaborations are needed to collate and share evidence on the trends of drug-resistant infections and the use of antimicrobials.”
Action on AMR includes strengthening regulations to ensure access to effective, safe and quality antimicrobials and to promote their rational use. Health-care facilities and professionals have a major responsibility to improve infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship programmes in hospitals.
Taking a firm stance against AMR
Governments across the Region are taking strong action against AMR. WHO is helping Member States develop and reinforce national plans; raise awareness across sectors; improve surveillance; and strengthen health systems capacity to contain AMR.
In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, a National Dissemination Workshop of the National Policy and Strategic Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance was held on 2 June 2015. In Hanoi, Viet Nam, a high-level meeting on AMR was held on 24 June 2015, which concluded with a signing of a diplomatic memorandum on AMR among representatives of the ministries of Health, Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Natural Resources and Environment and the embassies of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America as well as the Food and Agriculture Organization and WHO.
Recognizing the importance of raising awareness about AMR, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, with generous support from the Department of Health, Australia, will hold a region-wide Antibiotic Awareness Week from 16–22 November 2015 to promote the responsible use of antibiotics.
Antimicrobial stewardship training programmes in hospitals were supported by WHO in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Philippines to promote responsible prescribing of antibiotics.
“We must take strong action to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials before it is too late,” said Dr Shin.