World AMR Awareness Week

World AMR Awareness Week

About

World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) - formerly World Antimicrobial Awareness Week - is an annual global campaign to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This week also aims to encourage best practices among the public, healthcare workers, animal health professionals, environmentalists, farmers, policymakers, the youth, civil society and media, who play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens. Over the week, activities including high-level events, global youth summits, technical webinars, panel discussions, and many other celebrations are organized around the world. 

WAAW is celebrated every year from 18 to 24 November.  

WAAW 2024

The theme for WAAW 2024 is “Educate. Advocate. Act now.” This theme was chosen based on feedback from an online survey among stakeholders from the human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors, which collected nearly 200 responses globally. 

AMR is a pressing global health, environmental and socioeconomic crisis. It has significant impacts on human and animal health, food production and the environment. Drug-resistant-pathogens pose a threat to everyone, everywhere. Yet, much more can be done to raise public and stakeholders’ awareness.  Therefore, this year’s theme calls on the global community to educate stakeholders on AMR, advocate for bold commitments and take concrete actions in response to AMR. The 2024 UNGA High-level Meeting on AMR and the fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR, for instance, provide a critical window of opportunity for political and financial commitments as well as increased accountability in response to AMR. Stronger political leadership, advocacy and accountability are needed at all levels and the time to act is NOW. 

WAAW 2024 theme in six languages: 

  • Arabic: التثقيف. الدعوة. العمل الآن.
  • Chinese: 教育，倡导，立即行动
  • English: Educate. Advocate. Act now.
  • French : Éduquer. Promouvoir. Agir maintenant.
  • Russian: Просвещайте. Поддерживайте. Действуйте.
  • Spanish: Educar. Promover. Actuar ahora.

 

 

 

What are antimicrobials

Antimicrobials are agents used to prevent, control and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants. They include antibiotics, fungicides, antiviral agents and parasiticides. Disinfectants, antiseptics, other pharmaceuticals and natural products may also have antimicrobial properties.

What are antimicrobials

What is AMR

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

AMR WAAW

Key Messages

  • Antimicrobials are agents used to prevent, control and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants. They include antibiotics, fungicides, antiviral agents and parasiticides. Disinfectants, antiseptics, other pharmaceuticals and natural products may also have antimicrobial properties. 

  • AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. 

  • AMR is happening here and now. It is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, environment and sustainable development today. 

  • Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, plants and environment are accelerating the development and spread of AMR worldwide. 

  • The challenges of AMR are complex and multifaceted, but they are not insurmountable. A One Health response to AMR will help save millions of lives, preserve antimicrobials for generations and secure the future from drug-resistant pathogens. 

Did you know?

  • In 2019, nearly 5 million human deaths worldwide were associated with bacterial AMR, of which 1.3 million human deaths were directly attributable to bacterial AMR. 

  • The development of a new antibiotic can take 10-15 years and cost more than USD 1 billion. 

  • Releases from unused drugs disposed of in toilets, bins or waste dumps contribute to exacerbating AMR. 

  • Keeping animals healthy is an important measure to reduce the need for antimicrobial treatment in the first place. 

  • In a high-impact scenario, AMR will reduce global annual GDP by 3.8 percent by 2050. Left unchecked, in the next decade, AMR could result in a GDP shortfall of US$ 3.4 trillion annually and push 24 million more people into extreme poverty. 

  • When preparing food, washing hands before cooking and keeping food preparation areas clean can help prevent the spread of drug-resistant microbes. 

  • Human-induced pollution exacerbates AMR in the environment. The treatment of waste streams of municipal, agricultural, and industrial origin are important preventive measures. 

  • Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in homes and health facilities can reduce the need for antibiotics to treat diarrhoea by up to 60 percent. WASH helps prevent drug-resistant infections, saves lives and reduces health care costs.