World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022

When: 18 - 24 November 2022

Key Upcoming Events:

• 16 November - Annual Global Media Forum in lead up to World Antimicrobial Awareness | Click here to register      

  Media representatives are welcomed to attend the 2nd Annual Global Media Forum in lead up to World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2022 to have a direct interface with senior experts from the quadripartite organizations that have united to address one of the top threats to global health security - Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

• 16 November - AMR in the Environment: Perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean. This event, co-organised by the Basel Convention Coordinating Center, provides general concepts on Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment, and some preliminary information about the situation in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region, based on the regional assessment that is underway.

• 16 November (10:00-11:15 EET) - COP27 Side Event: Antimicrobials Rational Use Hosted by The Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) at the Health Pavilion at COP27,  this event is focused on how Antimicrobial-resistant affects the environment. Livestream here.

• 17-18 November - Global AMR Youth Summit 2022. The Global AMR Youth Summit 2022 is hosted by the World Health Students’ Alliance (WHSA) in its third edition from 17 to 19 November. The online event aims to highlight the importance of inter-professional collaboration and education to bring young healthcare students and youth at the forefront of AMR advocacy and solutions. Join here.

• 18 - 24 November - WAAW Africa campaign will be organized in a hybrid mode. Learn more here.

•  24 - 25 November  - Third Global High-level Ministerial Conference on AMR - Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. The Sultanate of Oman is hosting the 3rd High-level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Muscat, Oman on 24 and 25 November 2022 to accelerate tackling AMR at the national, regional, and global levels and to enhance international cooperation.

• 1 December - Webinar 4 - Governance approaches for prevention and control of AMR in the environment - This fourth webinar is intended to:

1. Understand the overall AMR National Action Plan (NAP) process and the role for AMR in the environment in NAPs
2. Describe effective approaches for governance for AMR in the environment at the global level and for NAP design and implementation at the country level

Where: Worldwide

The Quadripartite organizations - the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) are pleased to announce the theme of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2022: ‘Preventing antimicrobial resistance together’.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to humans, animals, plants and the environment. It affects us all. This is why this year’s theme calls for collaboration across sectors to preserve the efficacy of these critical medicines. Fighting AMR is a truly global endeavour and must be addressed through a One Health approach.

To curb it effectively, all sectors must join forces and encourage the prudent use of antimicrobials, as well as preventive measures. Strengthening infection prevention and control in health care facilities, farms and food industry premises, ensuring access to vaccines, clean water, sanitation and hygiene, implementing best practices in food and agriculture production, and guaranteeing the sound management of waste and wastewater from key sectors are critical to reducing the need for antimicrobials and minimizing the emergence and transmission of AMR.

The slogan of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week remains 'Antimicrobials: Handle with Care'. WAAW is celebrated from 18 to 24 November every year.