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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.

As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. A global action plan to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2015. One of the key objectives of the plan is to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training. World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR.

2026 Theme: ‘One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now‘. Our world is more connected than ever. The medicines that save lives, the food we produce, the economies we depend on, and the health of our environment are all connected. When drug-resistant pathogens emerge and spread, they impact our health, animal health, food security, economies and sustainable development. Their emergence and spread are also influenced by the health of our environment. AMR is no longer a future challenge; it is a global threat. WAAW is a global campaign to raise awareness and increase understanding of AMR and to promote global action to tackle the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to medicines intended to kill them. As drug resistance increases, antimicrobial agents, such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals and antiparasitics, become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. WAAW 2026 shines a spotlight on the shared responsibility of  governments, health professionals, veterinarians, environmental experts, farmers, researchers and communities to prevent AMR. Under the theme “One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now”, the campaign calls on everyone to do their part, recognizing that the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment is closely connected, and that actions in one sector can affect them all. Whether you are a policymaker, health worker, veterinarian, farmer, environmental practitioner, or community member, your actions matter. Together, through One Health and one action at a time, we can prevent and contain the spread of AMR, protect the health of people, animals, plants and the environment, strengthen food systems and support resilient economies, for a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Links:
World Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Awareness Week