World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites resist the effects of medications, making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. Antimicrobials are used to fight diseases in humans, animals and plants and include antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and anti-parasitic medicines.
In 2019 countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region adopted a Regional Framework to accelerate the fight against AMR. Countries agreed to advance the idea of a movement to fight AMR as an overarching principle to mobilize mass action, underpinned by value formation – the value of protecting self, society and future generations.
This movement will shift short-term interests, including incentives and profit, towards future-oriented action to fight AMR. The aim is to recast AMR as a political and social issue and ingrain collective behaviour change through a sustained, awareness-raising campaign and the adoption of good practice.
Join the movement
Since 2017, WHO has called on people across the Region to take a Pledge to create a community of committed individuals that are Stewards for the Future helping to stop the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials and to make the Western Pacific the healthiest and safest region.
As we celebrate World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) on 18-24 November, we’re inviting even more people to take the pledge, become Stewards for the Future and stand as One Region, One Movement to Fight AMR in the Western Pacific.
Please click this link to take the pledge today!
Virtual rally of Stewards for the Future
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