Nigeria to Host High Level Global Meeting on Action Against Antimicrobial Resistance

• Seeks 10% reduction in deaths by 2030

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

As part of efforts to reduce deaths caused by antimicrobial resistance, a high level global ministerial meeting on acceleration of action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be held in Abuja in June.

The summit, which is the first of its kind to be hosted by an African country, is expected to draw delegations from over 100 countries, including presidents of some countries, such as, Botswana, Ghana and Nigeria.

Dr Ayoade Alakija of the Ministerial Global Envoy on AMR made the disclosures.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Alakija said the conference would be the first of such a high-level engagement on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be held on African soil.

“The larger objective is to advance and to sustain global efforts to curb AMR in Nigeria, Africa and globally,” said Alakija.

According to her, the summit, with the theme, “One Health Advancing Global AMR Commitments through Local Action,” would focus on translating global pledges into practical, country-level interventions that will accelerate measures to reduce AMR deaths.

Alikija explained that the high level global meeting would seek to fast-track action against AMR and to set the tone towards achieving the target adopted at UN General Assembly High Level Meeting in 2024 to reduce AMR deaths by 10 per cent by 2030.

She stated, “The 5th High Level Ministerial Meeting on AMR would be different because not just ministers of health but also ministers of agriculture, environment and finance are being invited to take part to address AMR in all sectors (such as, animal health and livestock, food and agriculture and our environment) – and not just human health.

“AMR is not just about human health and protecting just our medicines but also about prevention and protecting our animals, plants and our environment.

“We need to ensure that not only humans are not harmed due to AMR but also our animals, agriculture and food systems and our environment are kept safe so that we all can live in harmony together.

“If we invest US$ 1 on AMR then return-on-investment is 11 times. If we invest US$ 1 on AMR, return on investment is US$ 11 – 11 times.”

The AMR envoy said the upcoming 5th High Level Meeting in Nigeria would focus more on solutions to address the challenge AMR was posing. “We also need to ensure AMR response is fully financed including prevention, surveillance, water, sanitation and hygiene,” she added.

Alakija stated, “It is strategic investments that our countries and our communities need. If we do not have money to fully fund our AMR multi-sectoral action plans, then how are we going to get the work done?

“So, we have to involve those who are involved with finances. Media is critical for accountability but also critical for awareness, and keeping the communities we serve involved.”

Alakija referred to Abuja Declaration 2001, where African countries committed to invest 15 per cent of their annual budgets on health. She hoped that the upcoming meeting will also play a historic role in sustainable financing for AMR response.

Alakija said, “We need to address AMR recognising the gaps in all countries and contexts especially low – and middle-income countries – and ways to bridge the gaps in prevention of infectious diseases as well as gaps in stopping misuse and overuse of medicines in food and agriculture sector, animal health sector and environment along with human health sector.

“AMR commitments like UNGA Political Declaration 2024 needs to be translated into not just actions but local actions which are critical.”

Alakija said Nigeria had been involved with the integrated approach for a while as it was important for all sectors to speak to one another and work in concert.