The majority of programmes for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) rely on medicines to treat and relieve the suffering of hundreds of millions of people.
So far, most of the medicines used for NTDs work well, but the potential emergence of drug resistance threatens advances and progress achieved over decades of programme implementation.
In order to ensure the continued efficacy of currently used antimicrobials for NTDs, it is crucial to closely monitor drug efficacy, establish robust surveillance systems for monitoring of resistance, define strategies to curb the threat of such resistance
and develop an appropriate arsenal of second-line drugs.
The annual World Antimicrobial Awareness Week aims to increase awareness and understanding of global antimicrobial resistance and encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy-makers to avoid the further emergence and
spread of drug-resistant infections.
This year, the tripartite organizations – (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health -OIE and the World Health Organization (WHO) – decided to change the focus from ‘antibiotics’
to a more inclusive and broader term ‘antimicrobials’.
This is meant to expand the scope of the campaign to all ‘antimicrobials’ and facilitate a global response to antimicrobial resistance, including multisectoral One Health Approach with increased stakeholder engagement.
This year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is being observed from 18-24 November and the theme for the human health sector is – United to preserve antimicrobials.
To mark the campaign, the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases is collaborating with WHO’s Department of Global Coordination and Partnership on AMR to host a webinar on 24 November from 14:00 – 16:00 CET. The aim is to
add the voice of NTDs and to encourage stakeholders adopt best practices and for policy-makers to avoid the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections in general and for NTDs, in particular.
Join us on 24 November by registering at https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GMrdngQvSomyBjBEKscNTg
