South Centre Supports Civil Society and Research Institutions of the Global South to Raise Awareness on Antimicrobial Resistance
The South Centre is pleased to announce its funding support for numerous civil society and research institutions in the Global South to mark World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024. This initiative has continued for six years, contributing to the global response on AMR by empowering grassroots movements and local institutions.
De nouvelles pandémies sont inéluctables. Comment mieux s’y préparer et surtout comment éviter les erreurs et injustices commises durant la pandémie du Covid-19 ? Des négociations sont en cours pour formuler un traité international contraignant sur la prévention et la préparation pour des réponses plus justes aux futures pandémies. Ce livre se veut une contribution critique aux débats en cours.
Comment garantir l’accès équitable aux médicaments et diagnostics, alors que la majorité d’entre eux sont produits dans un petit nombre de pays ? Comment expliquer que le financement actuel de la coopération en matière de santé se retrouve entre les mains d’un groupe réduit de pays et fondations du Nord ? Comment renforcer le rôle de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé, qui ne joue plus qu’un rôle mineur dans la coordination des politiques de santé publique ? Comment se fait-il que le concept de « médicaments essentiels », une avancée majeure dans les politiques de santé publique, soit remplacé par celui de « contre-mesures médicales », un terme qui s’accorde plutôt à la logique de profit du secteur privé ?
La préparation aux futures pandémies nous oblige à nous interroger : comment préserver l’intérêt général, la défense des droits de l’homme et la santé publique ?
Auteur: Germán Velásquez est conseiller spécial en matière de politique et de santé au South Centre à Genève.
Webinar: Enhancing Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Developing Countries
18 November 2024
Virtual event
Time: 3-4:00 PM CEST / 9-10:00 AM EDT / 7:30 – 8:30 PM IST
The South Centre will organize a webinar during the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2024 to highlight essential strategies and success stories in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and stewardship across developing countries, focusing on bridging gaps in data collection and accuracy. Challenges such as limited funding, technical infrastructure, and trained personnel hinder effective AMR surveillance.
The webinar will explore cost-effective digital solutions, regional collaboration, and resource-efficient strategies to help build resilient AMR surveillance systems, enhancing sustainable antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), combating AMR, saving patient lives, and improving global public health outcomes.
The webinar will have two sessions, designed to provide practical insights and evidence-based recommendations to improve AMR surveillance, policy, and clinical practices, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Group of 77 and South Centre convening on the Future of Antimicrobial Resistance Response in Developing Countries
Meeting Report
October 2024
On 25 September, the South Centre with the Group of 77 and China discussed solutions for tackling Antimicrobial Resistance and ensuring access to antibiotics and diagnostics.
Statement of the South Centre to the High-Level Meeting on AMR
September 2024
The South Centre is committed to support developing countries in tackling antimicrobial resistance. We welcome the opportunity to speak to this Assembly and add our voice to the call for urgent action to tackle this global threat. This year must mark the turning point in the collective efforts backed by new commitments and targets.
AMR in Aquaculture: Enhancing Indian Shrimp Exports through Sustainable Practices and Reduced Antimicrobial Usage
By Robin Paul
This study on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Indian shrimp farming underscores its critical impact on public health, environmental sustainability, and economic viability. The global scenario with many export rejections on account of persistent residues of antibiotics, reiterate that antimicrobial use in aquaculture, demands urgent global attention.
In the Indian context, the shrimp industry grapples with a delicate balance between production demands and long-term shrimp health. Sustainable practices, including responsible antimicrobial use, are crucial for economic viability, given the industry’s reliance on specific markets like the United States, EU and China.
Sustainable aquaculture emerges as a pivotal solution, supported by government policies and a gradual industry shift towards best practices. However, challenges persist, requiring a comprehensive approach to balance economic interests with environmental conservation. The key challenges remain the large number of small stakeholders and huge geographical spread of farms which make implementation of regulations and sharing of best practices difficult. Traceability and certification programs can play a key role in promoting responsible aquaculture, ensuring transparency and accountability in the supply chain. Technological innovations, including block chain can offer efficient solutions for traceability.
The collaborative action suggested emphasizes the role of government bodies, regulatory agencies, industry players, researchers, and consumers in addressing AMR. Clearer implementable regulatory frameworks aligned with economic and environmental priorities are essential. Looking ahead, the study envisions a future where the blue economy is sustainable not just for the industry’s success but also to protect the wider environment. By enhancing domestic market presence and fostering collaboration with importing countries, the Indian industry can overcome the multiple challenges raised by AMR in shrimp aquaculture.
The United Nations High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance on September 26, 2024: Uniting to Enable the Global Response to the Silent Pandemic
By Viviana Munoz Tellez
The “silent pandemic” of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is getting worse and requires a global response built on international cooperation and solidarity. On 26 September 2024, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly will hold a second High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance. The dedicated meeting is a new effort to bring urgent attention by leaders for increased action on the growing risk of untreatable infections becoming more widespread and of increasing mortality.
Ongoing Negotiation of a Pandemic Accord: South Centre’s Intervention to WHO Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response
18 September 2024
We are pleased to be participating in the morning open sessions of the World Health Organization Intergovernmental Negotiating Body’s 11th meeting for the negotiation of a pandemic instrument. See our intervention on 18 September 2024.
Catalyzing Policy Action to Address Antimicrobial Resistance: Next Steps for Global Governance
By Anthony D. So
The United Nations General Assembly has taken up Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) twice in the past decade, but the follow-through on commitments and financing of both Global and National Action Plans on AMR have lagged considerably behind the policymaker pronouncements. The need to update the intersectoral approach to the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance requires urgent attention if measurable progress is to be made in tackling this One Health challenge. This paper identifies where progress must pick up and outlines how intersectoral action might catalyze needed next steps.
Financial Support for Civil Society Advocacy during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024
The South Centre invites applications from civil society organizations and research institutions from developing countries for limited financial funding to design and launch or extend impactful advocacy campaigns that engage local government, communities and media to address antimicrobial resistance.
The scope of the campaigns can be human health, the human-animal interface, use of antimicrobials in food production systems, the role of the environment in the transmission and spread of AMR, and the link of Universal Health Coverage with AMR.
The campaigns should take place around the World AMR Awareness Week 2024. The WAAW 2024 theme is “Educate. Advocate. Act now”, and it will be held from 18 to 24 November 2024.
Details: