FAO promotes awareness and prudent use of antimicrobials in
Asia-Pacific during Word Antimicrobial Awareness Week

The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific has
supported several activities to raise awareness on antimicrobial resistance
(AMR) and on the need to use antimicrobials prudently among different audiences
of Asia and the Pacific to mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW).

The WAAW, observed in some 150 countries every 18-24
November, highlights the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, or AMR,
and is one of the United Nations’ most important global health priorities. This
year’s theme was Spread awareness, Stop resistance and adopted the
same slogan as last year, Antimicrobials: Handle with care.

FAO recently
released a new action plan on AMR for 2021-2025, which will guide the
programming of FAO activities in the fight against AMR. Among the key principles
of the new
action plan are the need for science-based evidence to identify and
manage AMR risks before they become large-scale emergencies, the utility of
surveillance and training around the world and the importance of incentivizing
and empowering stakeholders to transform awareness of AMR risks into action.

Region-wide WAAW events

As part of FAO’s regional collaboration with the Federation
of Asian Veterinary Associations, WAAW-related webinars were held in various
countries in the Asia and Pacific region. These were primarily aimed at
veterinary professionals in select FAVA Member Countries. The campaign theme
focused on empowering veterinarians across the region in fulfilling their role
in the Global Action Plan on AMR.

In China, FAO RAP technically supported FAO China in their
participation in a One Health Conference as part of their activities supporting
the global celebrations of WAAW.

In Cambodia, FAO Cambodia, through its Emergency Centre for
Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), collaborated with the World Organisation
for Animal Health (OIE), World Health Organization (WHO) Cambodia and the Royal
Government of Cambodia to hold an AMR communication strategy workshop. The
hybrid workshop was held in Kampong Cham Province attended by district and
provincial animal health officers. FAO Cambodia also collaborated with WHO
Cambodia to celebrate WAAW along with government health, agriculture and
environment ministries.

In Indonesia, FAO’s ECTAD country team collaborated with the
Ministry of Agriculture to hold several WAAW-related activities from AMR video
competitions, media briefings and debates to a series of webinars. Social media
campaigns were rolled out, along with media engagement such as publication of
an editorial article and press releases.

In Lao People’s Democratic Republic, FAO’s national ECTAD
team co-organized WAAW with the WHO country office and government ministries
collaborated with international partners, government agriculture workers,
farmer associations and the private sector. The FAO country office also
produced and distributed several WAAW promo items.

FAO country representations in Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Viet
Nam collaborated with their respective agriculture ministries and WHO country
offices to celebrate WAAW. The activities included a series of hybrid events
such as webinars and social media campaigns. The UN House in Viet Nam turned
blue as they joined WAAW partners around the world to “Go Blue.”

In the Philippines, the FAO country office collaborated with
that of WHO and government partners to mark this year’s WAAW. A national
students’ forum was held including an AMR poster making contest and a series of
AMR webinars.

https://www.fao.org/asiapacific/news/detail-events/en/c/1459987/