World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) kicks off today (Friday, November 18).
The global campaign, which aims to increase global awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and promote best practice among one-health stakeholders to reduce emergence and spread drug-resistant pathogens, is celebrated every year from November 18-24.
This year, the campaign’s slogan is ‘Antimicrobials: Handle with Care’ and its theme is ‘Preventing antimicrobial resistance together’.
Northern Ireland’s Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has welcomed the start of the awareness week.
It said that AMR is a major threat to humans, animals, plants and the environment, and thus a one-health approach is needed to reduce the needs for antimicrobials and minimise the emergence of AMR.
DAERA, the Department of Health (DoH) and Food Standards Agency NI (FSANI), said they are working together to address AMR and deliver the action plan for tackling it in Northern Ireland ‘Changing the Culture 2019-2024: One Health’.
Agri-food sector
According to the Food and Agriculture Organsiation (FAO) of the United Nations, AMR poses serious risks to food systems, the agri-food economy and food security as animals, plants and crops become immune to the agents designed to kill bacteria attacking them.
The organisation stated that the trend is largely driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in animals, plants and people.
“The agri-food sector is one of the most affected by AMR, leading to economic losses, declining livestock production, poverty, hunger and malnutrition,” it said.
DAERA said the UK is one of the most significant livestock producers in Europe, responsible for the health and welfare of over a billion animals each year.
Good farm management, biosecurity and animal husbandry systems are crucial to minimise the occurrence or spread of disease and therefore reduce the need for antibiotics, the department said.
“Veterinarians and farmers have a crucial role in ensuring prudent use of antimicrobials – Reduce Antimicrobial use, Reduce Antimicrobial resistance,” DAERA said.
