The government of Wales has announced £2 million in funding and the establishment of a new expert advisory group to help tackle the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals.
The government this week published its final review of the 2019-2024 AMR in Animals and the Environment Implementation Plan, which was Wales’ first coordinated approach to addressing AMR in the agriculture sector.
The £2 million in funding will go to the Arwain DGC (Defnydd Gwrthfaicrobaidd Cyfrifol) consortium.
Deputy First Minister with responsibility for climate change and rural affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies said: “Arwain have a proven record in delivering AMR controls, and this new phase of the programme will allow us to continue positioning Wales as a world leader in efforts aimed at addressing AMR and the responsible use of antibiotics.
“This investment will support vital monitoring, training, and engagement work to ensure antibiotics remain effective for future generations.”
The funding will support phase three of the Arwain programme, which will cover several areas, including continuing the veterinary prescribing champions network across 44 Welsh veterinary practices.
The collecting of antimicrobial usage data from at least 4,500 Welsh farms, monitoring AMR in cattle and sheep through on-farm sampling, and the establishment of a new AMR academy to provide targeted training for veterinary professionals and farmers, are also included.
Wales’ chief veterinary officer, Richard Irvine, said: “Drug-resistant organisms pose direct risks to both people and animals, and can spread through the environment, which is why our One Health approach – bringing together public health, animal health and the environment – is crucial.”
AMR
Antimicrobials such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics are medicines that are used to prevent and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants.
The medicines work by killing or stopping the growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria. They are an essential part of protecting animals and humans from sickness and disease,
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to the medicines. As a result, antibiotics become ineffective, making infections difficult or impossible to treat.
