WHO, FAO Hold Press Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in Vietnam

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on November 29 held a press conference on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Vietnam, state media reported. According to WHO, AMR in Vietnam further poses a major threat to food safety and security, livelihoods, welfare, economic and agricultural development. The main cause of resistance appeared to be inappropriate use of antimicrobial medicines, due to both their over-the-counter availability and the poor compliance of standards by health care workers, said Dr. Lokky Wai, WHO's Representative to Vietnam. WHO has listed Vietnam among countries with the highest AMR infections. To deal with the problem, in 2013, Vietnam became the first country in WHO’s Western Pacific Region to approve a national action plan to combat AMR. Since then, Vietnam has developed a comprehensive and multidimensional system to fight against resistance. According to WHO, around 700 000 human deaths each year are estimated to be related to AMR infections. The organization said in April that AMR was a major problem in South East Asia and that infections were a particular concern. (giaoduc.net.vn Nov 29)