Africa’s High-Level Event for World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024 kicks off in Yaoundé

Yaoundé – Africa’s observance of World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) began today with a high-level official opening ceremony in Yaoundé, hosted by the Government of Cameroon. It brought together policymakers, health experts, and youth leaders in a united front to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

During the opening ceremony, Dr Taïga, Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA), recalled that AMR is a global concern, in human, animal and environmental health. “It represents one of the most serious threats to the world today. […] Despite its silent nature, AMR is particularly devastating for our health systems, with repercussions on economic development. » he declared.

The opening ceremony, a focal point of the event, reflects Africa’s dedication to reducing AMR - a growing public health challenge that threatens human, animal, and environmental health.

This year’s WAAW theme, ‘Educate. Advocate. Act now’, emphasizes the need for cross-sector collaboration to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials. AMR, driven by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics across sectors, is a significant concern in Africa, where resistance rates are rising and threaten decades of progress in disease control.

WAAW is a collaboration in Africa each year spearheaded by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the AU Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The involvement of these diverse organizations underscores the need for a One Health approach, an integrated strategy recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health to mitigate AMR effectively.

Speaking on behalf of the Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Africa, Haile Gabriel Abebe, Athman Mravili, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Central Africa emphasised that the population growth in Africa put a lot of pressure on food demand in agriculture that translates to high production of food of animal origin and crops that associated with the use of antimicrobials. “FAO mandate covers antimicrobial stewardship over a variety of disciplines such as aquatic and terrestrial animal heath, welfare and production, food and feed safety, crop production and protection, water, land stewardship and overall, along the agrifood system” he indicated.

“With an estimated 60 to 75 percent of emerging human pathogens originating from animals, the responsible use of antimicrobials in animal health is critical” says Huyam Salih, Director of the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

The week-long event features a series of impactful activities, including high-profile panel discussions, youth engagement initiatives, and field visits to showcase ongoing efforts to tackle AMR across sectors.

As AMR is a major health threat that could cause up to 4.1 million deaths annually across Africa by 2050 if unchecked, this year’s observance comes at a crucial time. Key messages throughout the week will stress the urgent need for responsible antimicrobial use and stronger surveillance to protect public health, livelihoods, and food security across the continent.