The rise of multidrug-resistant antimicrobials has led to a significant increase in diseases and death in humans and animals. New numbers published in The Lancet reported that 255 000 people in sub-Saharan Africa died because of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – more than half were children under five in 2019. Therefore, Ethiopia is scaling up efforts to address AMR through a One Health approach effectively.  

In Ethiopia, the AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund (AMR MPTF) project has played a catalytic role in initiating and drafting technical guidelines for safe and quality animal source food production and AMR containment. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), with the technical support of the FAO, took the lead and established a One Health multidisciplinary team including the MOA, National Sanitary and Phytosanitary Steering Committee, Ethiopia Food and Drug Authority, Veterinary Drugs and Animal Feed Administration and Control Authority, Animal products, food safety lab of the Veterinary drug and feed quality testing center, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Ethiopia Standards Agency, and Addis Ababa University, Food and Nutrition department. 

The ministries of Health and Agriculture and stakeholders across the One Health spectrum reaffirmed their commitment to support the implementation and operationalization of the guidelines. They also envisaged developing complementary guidelines such as feed-in connection with food safety and plant-source foods and interventions along the value chain for controlling antimicrobial residues.  

Improving food safetyto help reduce the spread of superbugs  

Globally, unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of diarrhoea and malnutrition, threatening the nutritional status of the most vulnerable. Hence, the prevention and containment of AMR and antimicrobials residues in animal source food will contribute to food security and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The project is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The strength of FAO, OIE and WHO is founded on the long-standing partnership, combining technical knowledge and global convening power of the three organizations. Collectively, they offer robust, cost-effective, and efficient solutions to address complex health problems faced by the worldwide community. 

These activities were organized thanks to the financial support of the AMR MPTF, funded by Germany, the Netherlands, the UK Fleming Fund and Sweden.