By Naneka A. Hoffman
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) together with the Government of Liberia and One Health Platform join the global movement for action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), under the theme: “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together,” emphasizing the importance of collective action to address the global health challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
Speaking recently in Liberia at a One Health team two-day awareness campaign in three private and public high schools and one slaughterhouse in Montserrado county, Ms. Bintia Stephen Tchicaya, FAO Representative ad interim in Liberia highlighted the critical issue of AMR and its impact on human health, agriculture, and food systems.
She said the FAO assists in tackling Antimicrobial Resistance challenges in Liberia.
Ms Tchicaya added that FAO has been at the forefront of combating AMR in Liberia, advocating for collaboration across sectors to mitigate the rising threat.
She explained that the organization has actively engaged in promoting effective coordination among various stakeholders within the One Health Sector.
However, she noted that the efforts centered on strengthening surveillance mechanisms to monitor the emergence and spread of AMR while simultaneously working to optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines in human, plant, and animal health.
Ms Tchicaya revealed that among key achievements in recent years, FAO successfully conducted a comprehensive AMR situation analysis in Liberia, providing crucial insights into the prevalence and patterns of resistance.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
“This analysis became the foundation for developing a robust surveillance strategy and efficient laboratory diagnosis aimed at enabling the surveillance of AMR in the animal health sector. Additionally, FAO technically supported in formulating the AMR treatment guidelines, ensuring responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials in animals”, she added.
Meanwhile, she mentioned that FAO applied its expertise to evaluate AMR within Liberia’s agriculture and food systems, introducing the specialized Antimicrobial Resistance in Agriculture and Food Systems Tool/ Progressive Management Pathway (ATLASS/PMP tool).
The FAO Representative further said this tool is designed to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the dynamics of AMR across various stages of food production and supply chains, facilitating targeted interventions to curb AMR escalation.
She also emphasized the importance of sustained multisectoral collaboration, stringent surveillance, and responsible use of antimicrobials as key pillars in the fight against AMR.
Speaking on behalf of WHO Country Representative to Liberia,
Dr. Peter Clement, the Advisor for Family Health Program of WHO, and Dr. Musu Julie Duworko, spoke of evidence-based presentation on data submitted by sub-national human health facilities to the national level that informed participants about the effect of AMR in Liberia and their support and involvement in the prevention, control, and reduction of AMR.
Participants emphasized that multisectoral collaboration and coordination are important for the mitigation of AMR infections and resistant organisms.
Dr. Ibrahim G. Ahmed, Country Team Leader of FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) in Liberia, emphasized the critical role of the One Health approach in reducing AMR infections, bringing together multiple sectors and stakeholders for better public health outcomes.
“AMR is an “overlooked pandemic” that requires a united multisectoral approach. Let us be reminded that the One Health approach is critical in the reduction of AMR infections. It brings together multiple sectors and stakeholders engaged in human, terrestrial and aquatic animal and plant health, food and feed production and the environment”, expressed Dr. Ahmed.
The team raised awareness and educated students and slaughterhouse workers on the negative impact of overuse and misuse of antimicrobials, including antibiotics in both humans and animals.
The event was graced by Ministry of Health, National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Forestry Development Authority, National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture. Editing by Jonathan Browne
