Global leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York have committed to working together to protect people from antibiotic-resistant infections, also known as superbugs. These superbugs evolve to the point where they can evade antibiotic drugs, leaving hospitals with limited options to treat infections. In 2019, antibiotic resistance contributed to 4.95 million deaths, and experts predict that more than 39 million people could die from these infections by 2050.
The political declaration set during the UNGA meeting aims to reduce the death toll from antibiotic-resistant infections by 10% by 2030. It calls for every country to implement a national action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across various sectors including government, farming, and healthcare. The agreement also sets a fundraising target of $100 million to support low and middle-income countries disproportionately affected by AMR.
EU health chief Stella Kyriakides emphasized the need for countries to support each other and allocate sufficient resources to tackle this serious issue. The European Union alone sees 33,000 deaths and €1.5 billion in costs due to AMR annually. The agreement also addresses the need for animal farms to shift from antimicrobials to vaccines and for better waste management practices to prevent antibiotics from entering the water supply.
Despite the agreement, challenges remain in strengthening the global AMR response, particularly in light of watered-down commitments during government negotiations. Barbados’ prime minister Mia Mottley highlighted the importance of creating an independent scientific advisory group to consult with countries as they work to tackle AMR. Mottley also stressed the need for pharmaceutical companies to develop new antibiotic drugs in order to combat the growing threat of AMR.
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