Uncontrolled use of antimicrobial drugs is the main reason for the development of resistance to them. Antimicrobial resistance: how to cope with the “pandemic” Healthcare
The silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) claims nearly five million lives every year. General Assembly President Dennis Francis made the announcement Wednesday at a hearing in preparation for the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance. It will take place on September 26th.
The hearings were organized by the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Environment Program and the World Organization for Animal Health.
It is estimated that by 2050, antimicrobial resistance could cause up to 10 million deaths per year. If this problem is not brought under control, then the drugs that protect people’s health will become practically ineffective.
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Despite the scale of the threat, as the head of the General Assembly noted, the international community does not pay enough attention to it. He called for an urgent change in this situation and to use the upcoming high-level meeting to make progress in the fight against this dangerous phenomenon. Francis recalled that developing countries are in the most vulnerable position and cannot overcome such a significant problem without financial and other support.
“As a strategic issue, we must also address the problem of disproportionate burden that falls on the most disproportionately affected segments of the population, especially women and girls,” the GA Chair emphasized. “Not only do they often have primary care responsibilities, many also work in the agricultural sector, where they are exposed to high levels of pesticides and antimicrobials. In addition, this category of the population typically has limited access to healthcare.” In this regard, Francis is convinced that gender considerations must be taken into account when developing responses.