National AMR committee highlights progress in addressing AMR in Lao People's Democratic Republic
National Antimicrobial Resistance Committee highlights progress in addressing AMR in Lao People's Democratic Republic
©FAO/Bounmee Maokhamphiou
03/10/2024
The multi-sectoral National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Committee held a two-day review meeting between 3-4 October 2024 in Vangvieng District, Vientiane Province, with all key stakeholders involved in addressing AMR in Lao PDR. This annual meeting updated on progress made, and agreed next steps to accelerate progress, including updating the National Strategic Plan on AMR for 2025-2030.
Lao PDR has made a great progress in strengthening its national system to address AMR, most prominently by establishing an AMR Committee in 2016. With the support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a series of stakeholder consultation meetings were held, and the National Strategic Plan on AMR in Lao PDR for 2019-2023 was developed and endorsed by Minister of Health and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.
During this year’s annual meeting, Dr Phonepadith Xangsayarath, the Chair of the National AMR Committee, highlighted the importance of this year’s review, providing a basis for updating the National Strategic Plan on AMR for the coming years. He also highlighted key lessons identified from the review, specifically the importance of close collaboration across relevant sectors, to guide effective implementation in the future and ensure development partners’ support aligns with the government’s AMR priorities.
Dr Timothy Armstrong, WHO Representative to Lao PDR, recognized the government’s strong leadership and commitment to addressing AMR. While highlighting progress made, he also underscored the importance of collective efforts across all the relevant sectors, and the need for rapid action in the face of increasing AMR as a health security risk. Dr Armstrong said: “The development of the updated National Strategic Plan on AMR will provide a great opportunity to agree on a set of key priorities and practical solutions among key stakeholders across relevant sectors, which will guide coordinated actions to accelerate the progress in combating AMR.”
Dr Supatsak Subharat, FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Country Team Leader, highlighted that to ensure the revised National Strategic Plan on AMR be executed successfully, all stakeholders need to enhance their roles and responsibilities to exercise due diligently. The integration, collaboration and synergy across sectors also need to be strongly evidenced. For this to happen, better mechanism needs to be developed and made in place after this year’s annual review meeting, he said.
Led by the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, representatives from relevant government sectors took part in this annual review meeting: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Public Security. Development partners and all key stakeholders also participated.
Lao PDR has made a great progress in strengthening its national system to address AMR, most prominently by establishing an AMR Committee in 2016. With the support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a series of stakeholder consultation meetings were held, and the National Strategic Plan on AMR in Lao PDR for 2019-2023 was developed and endorsed by Minister of Health and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.
During this year’s annual meeting, Dr Phonepadith Xangsayarath, the Chair of the National AMR Committee, highlighted the importance of this year’s review, providing a basis for updating the National Strategic Plan on AMR for the coming years. He also highlighted key lessons identified from the review, specifically the importance of close collaboration across relevant sectors, to guide effective implementation in the future and ensure development partners’ support aligns with the government’s AMR priorities.
Dr Timothy Armstrong, WHO Representative to Lao PDR, recognized the government’s strong leadership and commitment to addressing AMR. While highlighting progress made, he also underscored the importance of collective efforts across all the relevant sectors, and the need for rapid action in the face of increasing AMR as a health security risk. Dr Armstrong said: “The development of the updated National Strategic Plan on AMR will provide a great opportunity to agree on a set of key priorities and practical solutions among key stakeholders across relevant sectors, which will guide coordinated actions to accelerate the progress in combating AMR.”
Dr Supatsak Subharat, FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Country Team Leader, highlighted that to ensure the revised National Strategic Plan on AMR be executed successfully, all stakeholders need to enhance their roles and responsibilities to exercise due diligently. The integration, collaboration and synergy across sectors also need to be strongly evidenced. For this to happen, better mechanism needs to be developed and made in place after this year’s annual review meeting, he said.
Led by the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, representatives from relevant government sectors took part in this annual review meeting: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Public Security. Development partners and all key stakeholders also participated.
Contact
Bounmee Maokhamphiou, FAO Lao PDR Outreach Specialist, [email protected]Vilaylack Khounvisith, FAO Lao PDR National Communications Consultant, [email protected]