Global leaders at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York have committed to reducing the death toll from antibiotic-resistant infections by 10 per cent by 2030. This commitment comes as the threat of superbugs that can evade antibiotic drugs continues to grow. The use of antibiotics in medicine, agriculture, and animal farming has led to the emergence of these superbugs, leaving hospitals with limited treatment options for infections.
The UNGA agreement calls for every country to implement national action plans to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by 2030, with a particular focus on providing support to low and middle-income countries. Currently, only 11 per cent of countries have allocated funding for these plans. The agreement also sets a fundraising target of $100 million to help countries ramp up their efforts to combat AMR.
While AMR disproportionately affects lower-income countries, it is a global health threat that demands cooperation and resources from all nations. The European Union, for example, faces significant costs and deaths due to AMR each year and is taking steps to address the issue through initiatives like the European Partnership on One Health AMR.
Despite the agreement, challenges remain in strengthening the global response to AMR. Advocates stress the importance of creating new antibiotic drugs and reducing the use of antimicrobials in animal farming. The creation of an independent scientific advisory group to guide countries in addressing AMR is also seen as a positive step. Without concerted efforts to address AMR, experts warn that it could undo decades of medical progress and lead to millions of preventable deaths.
Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com
