Exclusive Interview with Head of WHO on AMR Conference that was Held in Muscat

Merge 104.8  |  26 November 2022

The 3rd Global High-level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) that was hosted in Muscat, ended on Friday.

The two-day conference saw the meeting of more than 30 ministers and over 40 representatives from different countries.

Oman’s Minister of Health, Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, affirmed the Sultanate’s commitment to combating AMR, adding that the discussions that were held at the conference, will enhance the ongoing dialogue on One Health measures.

A declaration was also introduced during the conference, and according to the Director-General of Disease Control and Surveillance at the Ministry of Health, Dr Said bin Salim al Abri, more than 34 participating countries signed the Muscat Manifesto.

The Manifesto will be discussed at the upcoming UN General Assembly Meeting on AMR in September of 2024, and it mainly touched on three global targets:

  • Reducing the amount of antimicrobials used in foods by at least 30-50% by 2030
  • Ending the use of medically important antimicrobials for growth promotion in animals
  • Ensuring that at least 60% of overall antibiotic consumption in humans, comes from ‘Access’ group antibiotics (i.e. antibiotics that have a low AMR risk)

 

The Director-General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, told Merge 104.8 in an exclusive interview, that while a great step was taken at this conference, global solidarity is what is needed, to defeat the imminent threat of AMR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfDrRkQrdhU&t=1s