BUILDING MOMENTUM AGAINST THE ESCALATING GLOBAL THREAT OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE: STRENGTHENING STRATEGIC AND COLLECTIVE ACTIONS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

30 May 2024 | Geneva, Switzerland

The Governments of the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are co-hosting an event on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly to generate and sustain action to combat threats posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This side event seeks to encourage Member States and donors to collaborate on comprehensive actions at the national level, sharing and deliberating on challenges and potential strategies to mitigate the global impact of AMR.

This side event seeks to serve as a model for other Member States, donors, and key stakeholders to adopt effective practices for addressing AMR and implementing Infection Prevention and Control. Join the Republic of Korea and Saudi Arabia to:

• Facilitate the exchange and discussion of challenges, best practices, and strategies for national-level AMR mitigation among Member States, donors, and stakeholders,
• Strengthen the AMR agenda within the global health community, advocating for increased awareness and investment in combatting AMR through the WHA, High-Level Meeting on AMR at UNGA, and the 4^th AMR Ministerial Summit.

This event is hosted by the Republic of Korea and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, co-sponsored by Germany, Singapore, and Thailand, and organized in partnership with the International Vaccine Institute.

Background

The urgency to address AMR has never been greater, posing a silent but escalating threat to global health affecting human, animal, and environmental health while impacting food security and economic development. During the 154th session of the WHO Executive Board in January 2024, over 40 Member States concurred that AMR should be considered a top priority on the global health agenda, necessitating immediate and significant action. A resolution encouraging Member States to implement National Action Plans will be presented at WHA77 this May, followed by a declaration of strategically aligned political commitments against AMR at the High-Level Meeting on AMR during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this year. Additionally, the 4th AMR Ministerial Summit, hosted by Saudi Arabia from November 15-16 this year, will be an opportunity to take forward the political commitments from the High-Level Meeting and implement concrete actions to contain the threat of AMR.