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ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 (APP): The National Institute of Health (NIH), and the World Health Organization (WHO), on Tuesday formally inaugurated “Awareness Walk” to mark the beginning of World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW), observed globally from November 18-24.
The event, which drew participation from health experts, government officials, development partners, civil society, and media representatives, aims to rouse public and professional understanding of AMR, which is the most critical global health and development threat of our time, said a press release.
The 2025 global theme for WAAW, “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” served as the unifying call for the event, underscoring the urgency for bold, coordinated, cross-sectoral action.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to medicines, making infections difficult or impossible to treat. Antimicrobial Resistance is a silent pandemic that is actively undermining decades of medical progress, making common infections life-threatening once again.
This awareness walk symbolizes the unified resolve of the health sector and our partners to treat this as the emergency it is.
Dr. Muhammad Salman, CEO NIH, emphasized that combating AMR requires a comprehensive ‘One Health’ approach that addresses the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Factors driving resistance in Pakistan include irrational prescribing practices, over-the-counter sales of antibiotics, poor infection prevention and control both in hospital and community, and the misuse of antimicrobials in agriculture and livestock.
On this occasion, Dr. Luo Dapeng, WHO representative in Pakistan, said AMR threat is concerning but the good news is that Pakistan is leading the way and has just launched, in partnership with WHO, the first national priority pathogen list created in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, which is also among the first 8th pathogen lists globally. This is milestone achievement in our collective effort to combat antimicrobial resistance.
The awareness walk serves to promote the critical pillars of Pakistan’s National Action Plan (NAP) on AMR, which focus on strengthening surveillance across the human and animal sectors, improving awareness and education among the public and professionals, and implementing strict infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities.
The NIH called on policymakers, healthcare providers, veterinarians, farmers, and the general public to translate political commitments into tangible, life-saving interventions, and adopt responsible antimicrobial use practices throughout the week and beyond.