The growing problem of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) remains a serious but avoidable health challenge in almost all countries of the world resulting in an alarming increase in the burden of infections due to multi-resistant organisms. The increasing prevalence of resistance to broad spectrum Antimicrobial medicines to different microbe is reported from all over the world, which has significant impact on human health. The direct consequences of infection with resistant microorganisms are severe with consequence of longer illness, prolonged hospital stay, loss of patient protection undergoing surgical and other medical invasive procedures thereby resulting in increased mortality and health care costs. AMR is cross cutting and affects all areas of health and other sectors and has an overall impact on the society as a whole. Speaking on the occasion of World AMR awareness week, Federal Minister for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination(NHSRC), Mr. Aamir Mehmood Kiyani, informed that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) containment is a major priorityof Government of Pakistan and also has been has included in national public health agenda.The Government of Pakistan has endorsed the Global Action Plan for AMR developed by the WHO and is committed to implement strong program for containment of AMR in Pakistan. Aligning to the country’s need and global commitment, the Government of Pakistan has designated National Focal Point for AMRfor human health and notified a multi-sectoral AMR oversight committee to develop various technical and policy documents. Accordingly, a national AMR strategic framework has been developed in Pakistan with “One Health” approach. This framework has been developed through a consultative process and is in line with the five strategic objectives of the WHO Global Action Plan for AMR. The Pakistan NIHhas been enrolled in WHO Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS) and are setting up sentinel surveillance for AMR using GLASS protocol.Pakistan is also among the few countries implementing Tricycle Project which is aimed at integrated trans-sectorial surveillance system for bacterial resistance to antibiotics on a global basis. The Ministry of NHSRC has also developed a National Action Plan for AMR through collaborative efforts of all the concerned stakeholders. The primary objective of the National AMR Action Plan (NAP) is to ensure that current Antimicrobials remain effective as long as possible for all those who need them, and minimise the cost associated with their indiscriminate use.The major strategic priorities of NAP include development and implementation of a national awareness raising and behavioral change strategy on antimicrobial resistance; establishment of an integrated national AMR surveillance (human, animal usage and resistance monitoring); improve prevention & control of infections in health care, community, animal health, food, agriculture and environment; update and enforce regulations for human and veterinary antimicrobial utilization; phase out use of antimicrobials as Growth Promoters and provide appropriate alternatives (such as prebiotics, probiotics); integration of AMR in all public health research agendas including research on vaccines; and, estimation of health and economic burden of AMR for decision making.Meanwhile the Ministry of NHSRC and NIH shall remain committed to assist the provincial health and non-health sectors to develop their respective action plans in line with strategic objectives of the Global Action Plan and strategic priorities of NAP on AMR. Being the focal point for AMR, the National Institute of Health (NIH) under the auspices of Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) is observing World Antibiotic Awareness Week from 12-18 Nov 2018. The theme of this year’s antibiotic awareness week is “Change can’t wait. Our time with antibiotics is running out”. During this week, NIH has planned series of activities including distribution of awareness materials for general public, press briefing, talk shows, seminars and awareness walk etc. Among all these activities, the National Institute of Health (NIH), Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Islamabad in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) also organized an awareness walk. The aim of the event was to raise awareness about the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing. This event will also create awareness regarding the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals. A large number of health professionals, students, partners and media personnel participated in the event. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
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