Vientiane antimicrobial resistance walk highlights global threat to health
Vientiane antimicrobial resistance walk highlights global threat to health
©FAO/Bounmee Maokhamphiou
16/11/2024
A public walk in Vientiane, hosted by an alliance of ministries and development partners working to address the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), brought much-needed attention to this critical health issue.
The walk, which saw more than 500 representatives from ministries and key stakeholders complete a circuit of the Patuxay Monument to reaffirm their commitment to fight AMR, was hosted by H.E. [Dr. Phaivanh KEOPASEUTH], Vice Minister of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Globally, at least 700 000 people die each year due to drug-resistant infections. This number is projected to rise to 10 million deaths each year by 2050.
Speaking at the event, [Dr. Phaivanh KEOPASEUTH, Vice-Minister of Health] said: “Antimicrobial resistance is one of the top global public health threats and Lao PDR is not an exception. Almost three-quarters of a million lives are lost each year as a result of drug-resistant infections. AMR puts many of the gains of modern medicine at risk. It makes infections harder to treat and makes other medical procedures and treatments much riskier.”
In addition to its significant health impacts, AMR has significant economic costs. The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030.
“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat,” said Dr Timothy Armstrong, WHO Lao PDR Representative “As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. We cannot allow this life-saving tool to be lost – we must prioritize addressing AMR, and take immediate action.”
Ms Kim Kyung-Mee, FAO Representative to Lao PDR said: “AMR not only poses a threat to human health, but animal health, and agriculture and livestock sectors, requiring a multi-sectoral approach. Management of the factors driving AMR—primarily misuse of antimicrobials like antibiotics especially for plant and animal husbandry as growth promoters—and promoting good practices like biosecurity, hygiene and vaccination in animal and plant health, with surveillance of AMR organisms, are essential to understand resistance, trends, and solutions to the reduction of the need for antimicrobials and safeguard our food systems.”
The event forms part of the World AMR Awareness Week, and builds on the government’s commitment at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Lao PDR has taken strong steps to address AMR, including development of a National AMR Strategic Plan (2019–2023) and a supporting governance structure - the multi-sectoral National AMR Committee; regular sharing of AMR surveillance data among hospitals and laboratories at the national level; antimicrobial consumption monitoring at national and subnational levels with data reported to the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS); and working with public and private healthcare facilities to improve handling, storage, disposal and use of antimicrobial products.
The walk, which saw more than 500 representatives from ministries and key stakeholders complete a circuit of the Patuxay Monument to reaffirm their commitment to fight AMR, was hosted by H.E. [Dr. Phaivanh KEOPASEUTH], Vice Minister of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Globally, at least 700 000 people die each year due to drug-resistant infections. This number is projected to rise to 10 million deaths each year by 2050.
Speaking at the event, [Dr. Phaivanh KEOPASEUTH, Vice-Minister of Health] said: “Antimicrobial resistance is one of the top global public health threats and Lao PDR is not an exception. Almost three-quarters of a million lives are lost each year as a result of drug-resistant infections. AMR puts many of the gains of modern medicine at risk. It makes infections harder to treat and makes other medical procedures and treatments much riskier.”
In addition to its significant health impacts, AMR has significant economic costs. The World Bank estimates that AMR could result in US$ 1 trillion additional healthcare costs by 2050, and US$ 1 trillion to US$ 3.4 trillion gross domestic product (GDP) losses per year by 2030.
“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat,” said Dr Timothy Armstrong, WHO Lao PDR Representative “As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. We cannot allow this life-saving tool to be lost – we must prioritize addressing AMR, and take immediate action.”
Ms Kim Kyung-Mee, FAO Representative to Lao PDR said: “AMR not only poses a threat to human health, but animal health, and agriculture and livestock sectors, requiring a multi-sectoral approach. Management of the factors driving AMR—primarily misuse of antimicrobials like antibiotics especially for plant and animal husbandry as growth promoters—and promoting good practices like biosecurity, hygiene and vaccination in animal and plant health, with surveillance of AMR organisms, are essential to understand resistance, trends, and solutions to the reduction of the need for antimicrobials and safeguard our food systems.”
The event forms part of the World AMR Awareness Week, and builds on the government’s commitment at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Lao PDR has taken strong steps to address AMR, including development of a National AMR Strategic Plan (2019–2023) and a supporting governance structure - the multi-sectoral National AMR Committee; regular sharing of AMR surveillance data among hospitals and laboratories at the national level; antimicrobial consumption monitoring at national and subnational levels with data reported to the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS); and working with public and private healthcare facilities to improve handling, storage, disposal and use of antimicrobial products.
Contact
FAO Lao People's Democratic Republic Media Contact Person/s:
Bounmee Maokhamphiou, FAO Lao PDR Outreach Specialist, [email protected]
Vilaylack Khounvisith, FAO Lao PDR National Communications Consultant, [email protected]