Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the dominating global public health and development threats. AMR occurs when pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines like antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. As such, medicines are not as effective as they should be and infections and illness become more challenging to treat, which can result in severe illness, morbidity, and death.
Globally, bacterial AMR was reportedly directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.1,2 In the Caribbean and Latin America region, AMR contributed to 322,000 deaths in 2021. This regional figure is projected to increase to 650,000 by 2050, propelling the Caribbean and Latin America among those regions with the leading AMR mortality rates.
The World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign to raise awareness and understanding of AMR and promote best practices among One Health stakeholders to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. WAAW is celebrated from 18-24 November every year. This year’s WAAW theme is “Educate. Advocate. Act now.” which calls for the education of stakeholders, resolute advocacy at all levels and concrete actions in response to AMR.
Dr Lisa Indar, Ad Interim Executive Director, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), shared, “AMR has been identified as one of the top regional priorities among CARPHA Member States. CARPHA, through a One Health Approach, is working with key international agencies to strengthen integrated AMR surveillance to boost pandemic preparedness and response and regional health security.”
CARPHA is currently working with the UK Health Security (UKHSA) and the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Fleming Fund, in conjunction with CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund project and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), to improve both regional and national AMR detection and surveillance in the Caribbean region.
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