South-East Asian countries commit to combat drug resistance
The Health Ministers met to review key health issues in WHO's South-East Asia Region and provide policy direction for future action. They also focused on the prevention and control of non communicable diseases.
Warning that "The world is on the brink of losing its miracle cures", WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said, " This is the stark reality the world faces. We have taken antibiotics and other antimicrobials for granted. And we have failed to handle these precious, yet fragile medicines with appropriate care."
Drawing attention to the growing threat from noncommunicable disease, Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO's Regional Director for South-East Asia said, "The burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, chronic lung diseases and mental disorders is set to rise steeply in the next decade.
"The long term medical treatments required for chronic diseases will skyrocket health care costs and cause an additional economic burden to people."
By adopting the Jaipur Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, the Health Ministers called for urgent measures to control further development of antimicrobial resistance. They acknowledged that the most important driver of antimicrobial resistance is the irrational use of these agents and national governments must take urgent action to preserve the efficacy of existing antimicrobial agents.
"More needs to be done to control resistance to antibiotics and to ensure the rational use of antibiotics in order not to allow development of 'superbugs' in the region," said Dr Samlee.
The Declaration underscores concern at the spread of antimicrobial resistance which is negating achievements made in protecting human life and health.
It recognized that such resistance could become a critical impediment in global efforts towards containing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases.
The Ministers committed to develop national antibiotic policies, to regulate the use of antimicrobial agents and to be vigilant about the emergence and spread of further resistance.
They also committed to developing mechanisms to tackle the multisectoral determinants of resistance and to strengthen legislation against production and sale of counterfeit antimicrobials, promote healthy lifestyles and advocate for preventive and non- pharmaceutical measures to reduce the disease burden due to communicable disease and include the private health sector, industry and community to ensure a multisectoral way to tackle the causes of antimicrobial resistance.
From 7-9 September, delegations from the eleven SEAR Member States will be meeting for the Sixty-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee, which is WHO's governing body in the Region. WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan and Regional Director for the South-East Asia Region, Dr Samlee Plianbangchang will be present at both meetings.
The WHO Regional Committee will discuss several important health issues including strengthening the community based health workforce; intensification of routine immunization; universal health coverage; nutrition and HIV. (IBNS -Posted on / )
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