The World Health Organisation has warned that Antimicrobial Resistance is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most pressing health threats, with drug-resistant infections rising across countries and sectors.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites stop responding to antimicrobial medicines, rendering antibiotics and other treatments ineffective. WHO said this makes infections harder—or in some cases impossible—to treat, increasing the risks of severe illness, disease spread and death.
World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW), observed annually from 18 to 24 November, is part of the global response. The 2025 theme, “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” underscores the urgent need for countries and institutions to intensify efforts to curb resistance.
WHO said the theme reflects a stark reality: AMR is no longer a distant threat but a current crisis affecting health systems, food production, the environment and economies. Despite this, awareness, investment and coordinated action remain inadequate.
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The organisation urged governments, civil society, healthcare workers, veterinarians, farmers, environmental actors and the general public to move beyond political promises and implement concrete interventions.
WHO emphasised that long-term investment and stronger strategies across human, animal and environmental health are essential.
Key priorities include improving surveillance, ensuring equitable access to quality medicines and diagnostics, driving innovation, and building resilient systems capable of responding to emerging threats.
Investing in AMR response, the organisation noted, is critical for a safer and healthier future. Efforts at every level count—whether it is a hospital strengthening its antimicrobial stewardship programme or a farmer improving waste-management practices.
WHO reiterated that preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials is a shared responsibility that demands collective, sustained action to protect present and future generations.
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