WAAW is held annually in November from 2015 onwards to tackle the growing challenge of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines. WAAW aims to increase awareness of global antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers, farmers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.

This year’s WAAW will be celebrated from 18 to 24 November 2019. The WAAW Campaign will still carry the slogan of “Handle antibiotics with care”. Within the framework of WAAW, the joint press conference will be carried out in Hall A of the Ministry of Health, at 11 am on 18^th Nov. The press conference will be attended by representatives of MoH, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industries, WHO, FAO, National Center for Public Health and the General Authority of Veterinary Services.

Since their discovery, antibiotics have served as the cornerstone of modern medicine. However, the persistent overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human and animal health have encouraged the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance, which occurs when microbes, such as bacteria, become resistant to the drugs used to treat them. Therefore, there is an urgent need to promote knowledge of antibiotics among the general public and to support best practices and mitigating the prevalence of resistant bacteria.

In Mongolia, about 70 percent of all medicines are imported and about 30 percent of these constitute antimicrobial drugs.

Everyone has a role to play to prevent antibiotic resistance. Therefore, adapting simple and efficient habits in everyday of our life will help “mitigating antimicrobial resistance” and investing in our future. Hereto:

• Washing your hands properly
• Practicing safe sex
• Keeping vaccinations in both humans and animals up-to-date
• Do not share antibiotics with others but only with prescription from a qualified health professional (e.g. physician and veterinarian)
• Always follow the advice of a qualified health professional when taking antibiotics
• Preparing food hygienically
• Limiting close contact with others when you are sick
• Consuming safe and sanitized water
• Take about risks of antibiotics resistance with your family and friends
• Never use antibiotics for growth promotion in animal production

Within the framework of WAAW, activities such as organizing press conference, providing media workers and journalist with promotional packages/ media kit, conducting trainings for health professionals, providing general public with information on proper use of antibiotics and advices through social media tools.

Following the press conference, all the officials, journalists and participants will jointly make a “Human chain” by standing together under the theme of “ Stewards for the future: Fight Antimicrobial Resistance and pictures will be taken.