"World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022" is a global campaign that is celebrated every year from November 18-24.
This campaign is supported by four international organizations such including the World Health Organization, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the World Organization for Animal Health, and the United Nations Environment Program in collaboration with the governments and other participating organizations. The main goal of the campaign is to improve public awareness of microbial resistance and promote good practice among the public, medical professionals and policy makers to raise awareness and understanding of AMR and promote best practices among One Health stakeholders.
Microbes include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, and any agents that eliminate and prevent microorganisms or inhibit their growth and development are called antimicrobials. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants are accelerating the development and spread of AMR worldwide.
Antibiotics are the most well-known antimicrobials used for humans and animals. As a result of drug resistance, antimicrobials become ineffective, and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread. There is risk of being exposed to drug-resistant microbials when people consume meat, milk, and vegetables, and it can be spread into the environment such as soil and water through the feces of animals.
This year, the theme of WAAW is “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together.” We call on all sectors to encourage the prudent use of antimicrobials and to strengthen preventive measures addressing AMR, working together collaboratively through a One Health approach. In Mongolia, human and animal health and environmental sectors of Mongolia are jointly participating in the campaign. Within the scope of the campaign, several joint and separate activities are planned namely, "Healthy Livestock - Mongolia's Wealth" series of programs on AMR will be broadcasted via MNB channel, various information and education materials on AMR will be shared and disseminated through mass media and social network for the general publics, and a discussion meeting on AMR among the senior students of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences and the Mongolian University of Life Sciences , discussion sessions to provide information and raise awareness among high school students in cooperation with the General Education Department, health institutions to conduct training and advertising at their institutions, translation and distribution of AMR posters, the first meeting of the interdisciplinary committee in order to ensure the participation of multisector.
