World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW)

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) will be celebrated every 18-24 November from this year. It is one of the most important global event of the United Nations having included antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the biggest threats to global health.  This year, #WAAW is emphasizing the need to keep antimicrobials working in the light of the global pandemic of COVID-19. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) theme is AMR is here and now: United to strengthen food systems and secure livelihoods. In Asia and the Pacific, #2020WAAW is calling to improve biosecurity in animal production to strengthen food systems and secure livelihoods. #AntimicrobialSmart, we can help in mitigating the spread of AMR.

Since 2015, the World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) aims to increase awareness of antimicrobial resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health professionals and policy makers across different sectors to avoid the further emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. The WAAW has been hugely instrumental at raising the level of awareness across the Asia-Pacific Region.

 

2020 marks the sixth year of the awareness week and for the first time the week will be called the Word Antimicrobial Awareness Week, marking a shift to move away from solely antibiotics to a broader group of antimicrobials including antifungals, antiparasitic. 

 

The Regional Tripartite in Asia-Pacific of FAO, OIE and WHO will be joined by UNEP to mark the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week together to demonstrate it is united to fight antimicrobial resistance. Come and listen to regional leaders and future leaders in the field of public health, animal health and the environment.

 

Please register here: https://bit.ly/Asia-PacWAAW2020