The United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for a stronger global
effort, featuring more investment and improved surveillance, to
ensure antimicrobials are used responsibly and in ways that do
not threaten public health and food production.
"Good health, good productivity and good economies depend on
safe and nutritious food. Prudent use of antimicrobials in
public health and agriculture is essential to achieve this," FAO
Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo told participants at
a United Nations General Assembly side event.
"We need surveillance on antimicrobial use and the spread of
AMR - not only through hospitals, but throughout the food chain,
including horticulture and the environment for more
comprehensive risk assessments".
The world needs to stave off the risk of having less
efficient medicines to treat deadly infections due to the fact
that more bacteria are becoming immune to antimicrobials, the
Rome-based UN agency said.
Semedo underscored the importance of work done at field level
to bring Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) under control.
"Progress in the fight against AMR depends on good
agricultural practices. We need to promote sustainable
agriculture and food systems," she said.
"The use of antimicrobials in agriculture is not a substitute
for insufficient hygiene and bad management practices".
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