"The drivers of AMR are in several sectors. Misuse or overuse of antimicrobials happen in human health, animal health, food and agriculture, and several other sectors", adds Dr Philip Mathew, Technical Officer, World Health Organisation (WHO).
As per WHO, One Health is an integrated unifying approach to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and our environment. By linking humans, animals and the environment, One Health can help to address the full spectrum of disease control and contribute to global health security.
Information, knowledge, action gap?
"When it comes to addressing AMR, mere information is not enough. Information has to be translated into knowledge and action. We need to bridge that knowledge-action gap. In context of sustainability, we often say - think global, act local. What we do at the local level or what we do in our house, community, school, or organisation, also makes a huge difference. Key message is grounded in promoting appropriate use of antimicrobials, and to stop misappropriate or inappropriate use of antimicrobials in human health, animal health and livestock, food and agriculture, and environment. That is why quadripartite agencies of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have united to advance progress on One Health approach in addressing challenges such as AMR," said Wondwosen Asnake Kibret, Policy and Partnerships Coordinator, UNEP.
"Calling AMR a 'silent pandemic' might convey a wrong message that 'it is a very distant issue which may affect us sometime in the future'. AMR is not a distant issue as it is killing millions right now - even one death is a death too many when it comes to preventable threats like AMR. AMR can happen to anybody at any time," cautions Philip.
That is why all sectors across the One Health spectrum spanning human, animal, plant, and the environment must work together to ensure the responsible use of antimicrobials while taking preventive measures to decrease the incidence of infections. The medicines that we have today to combat diseases have to be handled with care and used responsibly.
Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant - CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla and Bobby Ramakant lead the editorial team of CNS (Citizen News Service) and are on the Board of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA) and Asia Pacific Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media). Follow them on Twitter: @shobha1shukla, @bobbyramakant)
- Shared under Creative Commons (CC)
As per WHO, One Health is an integrated unifying approach to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and our environment. By linking humans, animals and the environment, One Health can help to address the full spectrum of disease control and contribute to global health security.
Information, knowledge, action gap?
"When it comes to addressing AMR, mere information is not enough. Information has to be translated into knowledge and action. We need to bridge that knowledge-action gap. In context of sustainability, we often say - think global, act local. What we do at the local level or what we do in our house, community, school, or organisation, also makes a huge difference. Key message is grounded in promoting appropriate use of antimicrobials, and to stop misappropriate or inappropriate use of antimicrobials in human health, animal health and livestock, food and agriculture, and environment. That is why quadripartite agencies of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have united to advance progress on One Health approach in addressing challenges such as AMR," said Wondwosen Asnake Kibret, Policy and Partnerships Coordinator, UNEP.
"Calling AMR a 'silent pandemic' might convey a wrong message that 'it is a very distant issue which may affect us sometime in the future'. AMR is not a distant issue as it is killing millions right now - even one death is a death too many when it comes to preventable threats like AMR. AMR can happen to anybody at any time," cautions Philip.
Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant - CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla and Bobby Ramakant lead the editorial team of CNS (Citizen News Service) and are on the Board of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA) and Asia Pacific Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media). Follow them on Twitter: @shobha1shukla, @bobbyramakant)
- Shared under Creative Commons (CC)
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