Battle against silent pandemic a global goal

Out of 45 countries present at the third Global High-level Ministerial Conference on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), 34 countries have adopted Muscat Manifesto on accelerating the ‘One Health’ actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said, “The Muscat Manifesto is ambitious and concrete. The next step is to act on the targets. The conference has been really successful. AMR is a silent pandemic, and the world should take it seriously.

The Sultanate of Oman will be taking steps towards combating AMR. On the sidelines of the conference, the Observer spoke to Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health, and asked about the steps taken towards combating AMR.

“Standards and procedures need to be in place,” Dr Hilal said, adding, “We have to educate starting from the farm, the clinic, the health centre, healthcare workers and healthcare providers. We also have to educate the public from the basic level, but we also have to look at the other part, which is very important, that is a political will from the governments and wise use of antibiotics.”

To the question of how soon the action can be taken, he said, “This is going to be a progressive step, and it has to be oriented as there is huge work to be done in changing the culture and practices.”

Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Ahmad al Awadhi, explained that they are very happy with the conference’s outcome: “I think it is time to implement this outcome and declaration. We appreciate the Sultanate of Oman for hosting this event.”

According to Dr Haileyesus Getahun, Director of Global Coordination and Partnership, Anti-microbial Resistance Division, WHO, some of the complex and multifaceted global challenges range from lack of basic access to clean water and sanitation, poor infection and disease prevention and control in healthcare facilities, farms and communities, poor access to highquality and affordable medicines, vaccines and diagnostics.

“Anti-microbial resistance is a threat to food security for humans, animals and the environment. We need all these sectors to work together.

For the first time, we have had the highest number of health and agriculture ministers attending the event. We hope this conference will be transformational and add to the global efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance.”

India’s Minister of State for Heath, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, noted that India launched a National Action Plan (NAP) for AMR, in April 2017, to improve awareness, enhance surveillance measures, strengthen infection prevention and control, and promote investments to control AMR. She also urged all countries to commit to a strong political will, promote intersectoral coordination between public and private sectors, and comprehensively strengthen the healthcare systems worldwide to tackle AMR.