Leaders convene at UNGA79 to address urgent threat of antimicrobial resistance

World leaders are meeting to address the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance and form a united response against this multifaceted problem.

Community dialogue facilitator in Bangladesh leads meeting to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance as part of the COSTAR project

Today, world leaders convene in New York for the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance to tackle this urgent threat to human, animal and environmental health. The high-level meeting is being held as part of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). 

The meeting highlights the critical need for multi-sectoral global, regional and national actions and investment to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drug-resistant infections know no borders, which means countries must work together to respond to it effectively.  

AMR is one of the most pressing public health and development threats facing the global community. Findings from a recent Lancet study show that in 2019, bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths and contributed to 4.95 million deaths. That number could rise to 10 million deaths by 2050. 

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics to prevent, control and treat infection are key drivers in accelerating its spread. The problem is global, but exacerbated by inequalities and a lack of resources, its impact is felt most by people in low-and middle-income countries, where access to healthcare and proper medical resources is limited. Without urgent action, AMR could reverse decades of medical progress, making it harder to save lives and control diseases worldwide.  

Helen Hawkings, Malaria Consortium’s Senior Social and Behaviour Change Specialist commented, “AMR knows no boundaries, neither should our response. Urgent action is needed to unite and innovate for effective solutions to AMR. In our COSTAR project in Bangladesh and Nepal, we are applying innovative models like interactive community dialogues, which strengthens local communities’ capacity to identify the contextual drivers of AMR and develop sustainable, tailored action plans. These kinds of creative solutions are needed to de-activate the ticking time bomb that is AMR.” 

Prevention of AMR has been a particularly neglected area for investment. A key area of discussion at the high-level meeting will be on sustainable financing for AMR and the financial mechanisms and innovations that can be leveraged for AMR financing at the national, regional and global levels.  

Alongside this discussion, the meeting will explore how AMR can be tackled across sectors — human, animal, plant and environmental — by raising awareness, using novel approaches and addressing socio-economic inequities that impact on healthcare access. Engaging communities to better recognise their role in mitigating the causes and protecting themselves against the consequences of AMR plays a vital part in addressing AMR in a sustainable manner.  

It is hoped that the actions resulting from the high-level meeting will be taken forward in a meaningful way, measuring progress and ensuring accountability at all levels. Creative, tangible, impactful solutions are needed, delivered through coordinated response globally and at the country level, to tackle this multifaceted problem. 

Read about the COSTAR project