Working across sectors is best way to address AMR, future veterinarians hear

Jorge Pinto Ferreira, FAO Food Safety Officer, gave an online presentation to Portuguese veterinary students, on 2 October 2021, during the “VIII Jornadas Multidisciplinares”, promoted by the student association of the University of Évora in Portugal.

The topic of the talk was Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), with a particular focus on the multi-disciplinary approach needed to face this significant global public health issue. Students were surprised and interested to learn that the disciplines involved go way beyond human medicine or veterinary medicine (as they initially thought), and include a broad range of disciplines, including social sciences such as anthropology, sociology and psychology.   

FAO works with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to coordinate global activities and tackle AMR through a “One Health”, or multi-disciplinary, approach, which takes into account animals, humans and ecosystems at the same time.

The mis-use of antimicrobials contributes to the spread of AMR and undermines the effectiveness of human and veterinary medicines.

As part of its AMR Action Plan, FAO seeks to increase stakeholder awareness and engagement.

Read more about the University of Évora 

Find out about FAO’s work on AMR 

Photo: ©FAO/Luis Tato