WHO to push for action on antimicrobial resistance at UNGA79
At the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), which will be held in New York from 20 to 30 September 2024, WHO will call on global leaders to address the problem of antimicrobial resistance.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are set to urge world leaders to tackle pressing global health challenges and invest in public health during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), taking place from 20 to 30 September 2024 in New York.
The spotlight will be on the Second High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), scheduled for 26 September 2024. This is the primary health-focused event during UNGA79’s high-level week, aimed at confronting the escalating global threat of AMR.
The meeting’s outcome is expected to advance a political declaration, urging decisive global action to combat AMR, which disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries.
The Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the effects of medicines, rendering treatments ineffective.
This increases the risk of infections that are harder to treat, leading to severe illnesses and death. Without swift action, AMR could escalate, leading to significant global suffering.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the urgency, stating, “AMR threatens a century of medical progress and could return us to the pre-antibiotic era, where infections that are treatable today could become fatal.”
He also highlighted the need for a strong, global response, as AMR poses risks to countries at all income levels.
The declaration for the AMR meeting has been shaped through intergovernmental negotiations, co-facilitated by Malta and Barbados.
The first UN High-Level Meeting on AMR occurred in 2016, marking the beginning of coordinated international efforts to address this looming health crisis.
As the world faces this growing threat, UNGA79 offers a critical opportunity for global leaders to unite in the fight against AMR, ensuring a safer future for public health.