Sri Lanka, at a high level meeting at the UN headquarters, has called for shared knowledge, resources, training, best practices, and commitment to advancing pharmacy education to battle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), spreading across the globe.
“The fight against AMR is a shared responsibility. It needs political will, investment and cooperation. Let us commit to an integrated coordination, a global response that safeguards the health of future generations,” Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Ambassador Mohan Pieris said. He was addressing a high level meeting on AMR at the United Nations (UN) headquarters.
Pieris said that addressing antimicrobial resistance is not merely a scientific endeavour, but also a moral imperative.
“We need an integrated approach to public health,” he said.
AMR happens naturally over time as microorganisms go through genetic changes over generations, but is accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials to treat, prevent or control infections in humans, animals and plants.
According to the World Health Organization, bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019. In Sri Lanka too, the AMR remains high with Ampicillin resistance remaining over 80 percent – which means it can no longer be considered a useful antibiotic for the bacteria, E coli. Pieris called for “immediate,” “collective” action over the overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics leading to the rise of resistant microorganisms, which undermines the ability to control or treat infections.
He also highlighted some of the coordinated action taken in Sri Lanka to mitigate AMR, by addressing antimicrobial resistance through a “one health” approach with collaboration across the agriculture, veterinary and environmental health sectors.
Current measures include cross sectoral rationalisation of antimicrobial use as well as prevention and control of infections. Guidelines have been implemented for antimicrobial prescription and use, educating healthcare providers, veterinarians and agricultural workers on responsible antimicrobial practices, he said.
