Abuja:European Parliament: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) accounts for the deaths of one million people annually, prompting calls for coordinated action across various sectors. Dr. Jean-Pierre Nyemazi, Acting Director of the AMR Department at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Headquarters, emphasized this need during a virtual media conference preceding an exhibition at the European Parliament.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the exhibition, titled ‘AMR: The Human Stories Behind a Silent Pandemic,’ showcases personal accounts from those affected by AMR across Europe. Dr. Nyemazi highlighted that AMR results in two deaths every minute due to drug-resistant bacteria, urging that it should no longer be considered a ‘silent pandemic.’
Nyemazi advocated for prevention strategies such as vaccination, infection control, and better sanitation to combat AMR. He also stressed the importance of improving surveillance, responsible antimicrobial use, and ensuring access to quality medicines and diagnostics. The One Health approach was highlighted as crucial, connecting human, animal, plant, and environmental health.
The WHO’s updated Global Action Plan on AMR, approved by its Member States, outlines a framework for the next decade, emphasizing prevention, governance, behavioral change, and measurable targets. The plan involves collaboration among the Food and Agriculture Organisation, United Nations Environment Programme, WHO, and World Organisation for Animal Health.
Martin H¤usling, a member of the European Parliament, pointed out the excessive use of antibiotics in food-producing animals as a significant contributor to AMR, advocating for reduced reliance on last-resort antibiotics. Meanwhile, Rob Purdie, an AMR survivor, shared his personal ordeal, stressing the importance of keeping AMR in public discourse to prevent similar experiences for others.