30 November 2022 – As the 2022 World Antimicrobial Awareness Week drew to a close last week, we were heartened to see the growing attention on the global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and left with renewed resolve for our part in the job still needed to stop this emergency from winding back the clock on a century of medical progress.

As a landmark report in the Lancet revealed earlier this year, the annual death toll for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) now exceeds that of HIV and malaria combined. Yet access to the diagnostic tools needed for antimicrobial stewardship and disease surveillance remains severely limited in many parts of the world. As a result, health workers and government officials still lack precious data to guide effective treatment and policy decisions.

To spotlight these gaps, we joined forces with partners and advocates to release a new video featuring Dame Sally Davies (UK Special Envoy on AMR), Dr Marc Mendelson (University of Cape Town), Dr Abdul Ghafur (Infectious Diseases Consultant & AMR advocate) and Dr Kamini Walia (Indian Council of Medical Research).

Cognisant that India is one of the largest consumers of antibiotics worldwide – with resistance to broad-spectrum antimicrobials increasing 5–10% every year –we brought together key public and private sector stakeholders in New Delhi, for an in-person meeting to discuss cross-sectoral solutions for concerted country-level action. Stay tuned for a forthcoming op-ed that picks up themes explored during the event, and if you would like to receive the meeting report please contact us.

Earlier in the week, our team presented on diagnostic stewardship and the product pipeline for infection management during a WAAW 2022 webinar series organized by Right To Care in South Africa. We also participated in the 24-hour AMRelay organized by the AMR Insights Ambassador Network.

Looking to the future, we welcome and support the new G20 Leaders’ Declaration on the need to remain committed to embedding a multisectoral One Health approach and enhancing global surveillance to detect pathogens and AMR that threaten human health.

WAAW is an important moment to reflect on progress and raise awareness, but urgent action on AMR is needed all year round.

Cecilia Ferreyra, Director of AMR Programme

Sarabjit Chadha, Regional Technical Director, India and Southeast Asia