21 NOVEMBER 2019, ULAANBAATAR – As part of the World Antibiotic Awareness Week campaign, the first National Workshop on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) took place bringing together over 100 participants from ministries, agencies and international organizations across the health, food, animal and agricultural sectors.
AMR is a compelling issue that is challenging countries around the world. In 2018, Mongolia had the highest consumption rate of antibiotics, 64.4 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants per day, among all the countries reporting to WHO at the global level[1]. In October 2019, a Regional Framework for Accelerating Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance in the Western Pacific Region was approved. So, the workshop could not be timelier with its objective to identify and agree on priority activities and cross-sectoral joint action in line with the global action plan and regional framework on AMR.
The event produced an open and lively discussion among over 100 participants who raised their concern about the need to establish effective collaboration across sectors, to translate commitment into action and to leverage existing mechanisms and structures for stronger interventions and measures in tackling AMR. Recommendations on joint action, strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination are to be developed and shared with tripartite partners and national counterparts.
[1] WHO report on surveillance of antibiotic consumption: 2016-2018 early implementation.