As the world marks World Antimicrobial Resistance  Awareness Week from 18–24 November, health experts are warning that the rising tide of drug-resistant infections threatens to undo decades of medical progress. 

This year’s theme, “Save the medicines that protect us, prevent antimicrobial resistance, save lives,” underscores the urgency for countries to scale up prevention efforts and fully fund national AMR action plans.

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites stop responding to medicines, making common infections increasingly difficult—or impossible—to treat. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medicines in human health, animal health, food production and agriculture continue to fuel the crisis. 

Environmental pollution from untreated wastewater, pharmaceutical effluents and agricultural run-off is worsening the spread of resistant pathogens.

“The consequences of AMR are far-reaching, affecting human and animal health, food safety and security, and placing additional strains on healthcare systems and economies,” experts warned at the global media forum held ahead of WAAW.

Dr Jean-Pierre Nyemazi, Director of the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR, stressed the need for coordinated global action.
“Addressing AMR requires urgent, coordinated action and sustained commitment from governments and diverse sectors across the One Health spectrum,” he said.

 The Quadripartite has brought together WHO, FAO, UNEP and WOAH to tackle AMR collaboratively.

A Growing Crisis: Two Lives Lost Every MinuteThe scale of the crisis continues to deepen.
“Today, 1 out of every 6 bacterial infections confirmed in the laboratory is resistant to antibiotics,” said Dr Javier Yugueros-Marcos from the World Organisation for Animal Health.

AMR is already linked to nearly 5 million deaths annually, with 1.14 million directly caused by bacterial AMR—equivalent to two lives lost every minute.

While more than 90% of countries have developed national AMR action plans, only 22% are fully implementing them.
“That is why world leaders stepped up last year… 60% of countries must have fully funded national AMR action plans and implement them,” Dr Nyemazi said.

Governments also pledged to mobilise US$100 million by 2030, channelled through the Antimicrobial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund (AMR MPTF) and other financing mechanisms.
“This is a powerful signal that the world understands the urgency and shared responsibility. However, technical solutions alone won't win this fight,” he added.

Funding Gap Puts Global Progress at Risk

Until 2019, no dedicated global financing mechanism existed to support multisectoral AMR responses in low- and middle-income countries. The AMR MPTF was established to fill this gap.

But experts warn the fund urgently needs replenishment.
“The gains made in AMR policy development risk stalling without the means to act,” said Dr Emmanuel Kabali, AMR Project Coordinator at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The AMR MPTF coordinates the expertise of the four Quadripartite agencies to support country-led programmes across human, animal, plant and environmental sectors.

Zimbabwe is among the countries where catalytic funding has produced tangible, life-saving results.

Through the AMR MPTF, the country revived domestic production of the BOLVAC vaccine, used to combat tick-borne diseases in livestock.
This not only protects animal health but also reduces inappropriate antibiotic use.

“Zimbabwe is an agricultural economy. So, with initiatives like BOLVAC vaccine we are not merely addressing antimicrobial resistance but also addressing the economic loss it was causing,” said Dr Tapfumanei Mashe, AMR Project Coordinator, WHO Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has also seen major progress in curbing typhoid-related AMR following the introduction of the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine in 2019.

Dr Mashe highlighted the impact:
“We saw a reduction in incidence of typhoid fever from 1373 per 100,000 before the introduction of TCV to 341 per 100,000 after. This has also resulted in a reduction of AMR.”

Prior to the vaccine rollout, Zimbabwe faced soaring treatment costs due to resistance.
 

“In 2018, first-line medicine for typhoid (ciprofloxacin) was not working… So, typhoid conjugate vaccine has not only reduced AMR but also reduced expenditure for government as well as mortality and morbidity,” Dr Mashe added.

Zimbabwe has also strengthened multi-sectoral AMR surveillance across human health, animal health, the environment and agriculture.
 

“Thanks to AMR MPTF, Zimbabwe is also tracking phosphide resistance by setting up a surveillance system where we can check the prevalence of fortified medicines circulating in the country,” said Dr Mashe.

The brief ends with the example of Cambodia, a country that had strong AMR ambitions but lacked funding and structural support. The AMR MPTF provided the catalytic investment and technical guidance required to activate nationwide AMR programmes

As WAAW 2025 unfolds, health leaders are calling on high-income countries to close the financing gap that threatens global health security.

Without fully funded national AMR action plans, lifesaving medicines will continue to lose their effectiveness—placing millions at risk and burdening already fragile health systems.