With antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatening development and health in Africa, six international and continental organizations are launching the first partnership of its kind to combat this public health crisis on the continent.

The partners cemented their collaboration today with a joint statement by eight senior representatives on the first day of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) Campaign for Africa, noting the “silent public health threat that AMR poses in all countries in Africa” and expressing concern for the “uncontrolled antimicrobial use across the African continent.”

The eight senior representatives of the six partners:

Director Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

Director African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa

FAO Deputy Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa

WHO Regional Director for Africa

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean

World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Regional Representative for Africa

Regional Director for Africa, UNEP

The meeting of the regional directors agreed to combating antimicrobial resistance.

International and African organizations join together to fight antimicrobial drug resistance