Latest news with #antimicrobialresistance
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
On the brink: Why slashing spending on global health will make us all sicker
This week, the Chancellor received a letter from those who know the NHS inside out with a plea to think again about international aid. It was signed by Presidents of diaspora health associations from across the UK, representing thousands of overseas-born healthcare workers serving in our NHS. Their message was clear: if the UK retreats further from its global health commitments, we all lose. These are not lobbyists or idealists. They're doctors, nurses and specialists on the front line of British healthcare. They understand the hard economics of government budgets. But they also understand something the Treasury may be in danger of missing: global health isn't charity. It's a vital investment in our own safety, economy and NHS resilience. A smart move, not a soft one When the UK backs health partnerships abroad, it's not altruism. Helping others stay healthy is one of the smartest ways to protect ourselves. Programmes like the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardships funded by DHSC's Fleming fund, link NHS teams with hospitals in low-and middle-income countries to tackle antimicrobial resistance. So far, more than 65,000 health workers have been trained. Prescribing has improved. Infection controls are stronger. Meanwhile, UK staff return with invaluable experience that strengthens our NHS, from leadership under pressure to a deeper understanding of infectious diseases. It's the kind of low cost, high impact intervention any sensible government should double down on. The cuts are already hurting Before the 2021 cuts, a programme called the UK Partnerships for Health Systems was set to train 78,000 global healthcare workers and improve care for hundreds of thousands of patients. It was abruptly slashed by £48million. Programmes were halted. Partnerships paused. Opportunities for mutual learning lost. That was the last government. We did not expect to see the same thing happen under this government, with its distinguished track-record of supporting UK Aid over many decades. The letter from the Presidents of Diaspora Associations makes it clear what this means in real terms – not just for patients in low-income countries, but for UK health care workers whose knowledge and innovation stem from these international exchanges. The NHS is global – let's not forget it One in five NHS workers is a non-UK national. Their expertise connects the UK to over 200 health systems worldwide. They help make the NHS one of the most internationally engaged healthcare systems on the planet. Many trained in countries with fragile systems. Many are already playing leadership roles in linking British institutions with their counterparts overseas. In Tanzania, a partnership led by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust helped introduce laparoscopic surgery and set up a burns unit. In Ethiopia, Nottingham's NHS trust collaborated with Jimma University to improve trauma and diabetes care. The return on investment? More skilled, confident UK staff - and stronger UK healthcare at home. Soft power, hard results Health partnerships do far more than train workers. They help develop curricula, fortify health systems overseas and importantly, build Britain's global reputation at a time when influence is in short supply. The UK-Africa Health Summit earlier this year showed the power of collaboration, bringing together Ministers, health leaders and diaspora professionals to forge solutions on workforce mobility and pandemic preparedness. This diplomacy is with a scalpel, not a sword – and it works. We must protect what works The Chancellor faces tough choices. But cutting the global health budget and not mitigating the consequences, would be a false economy. It would weaken our defences against future pandemics, shrink the NHS's talent pipeline and damage our standing in the world. As the letter from diaspora leaders makes clear: this is not a plea for charity. It's a call for strategic investment. Let's not wait for the next global crisis to remind us that disease doesn't respect borders. Let's act now – to protect the NHS, promote economic stability and ensure Britain remains a trusted force for health and progress worldwide.
RNZ News
01-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
World-First NZ study could help stamp out superbugs by mapping antimicrobial resistance hot spots
An illustration of the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, which causes whooping cough. Photo: 123RF A world-first study, led by the University of Canterbury, could help reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance, considered one of the greatest health threats facing humanity. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when pathogens like bacteria and fungi evolve to withstand antibiotics. The project, which is currently a grant proposal, is being led by Professor Jack Heinemann of Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, University of Canterbury's School of Biological Sciences. He said the research will map reservoirs of AMR across New Zealand to pinpoint areas of resistance, making it the first country in the world to know where its hot spots are located. It's hoped the university's research could be adopted and used by governments, private businesses, and communities internationally. "The reason it's a world first is because there aren't any countries yet on the scale that we are proposing to do this that have mapped their antimicrobial resistance so that they can apply a One Health approach to control the flow of antimicrobial resistance between the environment, agriculture and humans," he said. "We have an advantage in New Zealand because we're an island and it's possible for us to limit the number of variables that could complicate a study like this." "But at the same time, we're pretty big for such a study of this nature and that combined makes this a world first potential to tell us where resistance tends to accumulate, how to keep it there or eliminate it once we find it and work towards a world that doesn't just manage antimicrobial resistance but actually stamps it out." The University of Canterbury professor said that in the last century, antibiotic-resistant microorganisms have spread across the land, air and water in far greater numbers as the world's population, antibiotic use, and industrial pollution have grown. "The bacteria are now found everywhere, including places far removed from human activity like Antarctica and the bottom of the ocean," he said. "So much of our existence is dependent on antibiotics because they're used to control infectious diseases as they arise and to grow crops and livestock to the levels we need to produce food for so many people. It's reached a point where it is now an existential threat to our way of life and even to our species." "Even a small growth in the proportion of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics can cost the global healthcare system tens to hundreds of billions of dollars." He said AMR was quickly becoming a massive challenge for the New Zealand health system and was being exacerbated by global events. "In New Zealand, AMR is growing. We've had times where hospital wards have been closed because of superbugs, which are resistant to antimicrobials. We're also frequently getting resistance in our agricultural areas. "Being an island, we control more variables than lots of other countries could control, and then the point of our study is to understand how we can track these sources of resistance. "The problem with antimicrobial resistance is that it is growing to the point where it can no longer be ignored, and it is in magnitude and cost and in threat to your health well in excess of other kinds of threats that we do talk about quite a lot. "Climate change, war, all these kinds of different pressures that we are under are further exacerbated by antimicrobial resistance as the weather changes. "It changes the kinds of organisms that carry these pathogens into our communities and into agriculture, it changes their survival characteristics, flooding, for example, distributes them sometimes directly into our homes," he said. A team of about six full-time staff, including two Māori researchers, three postdoctoral students and a graduate, will work alongside a network of volunteers and other organisations across the country that trap and kill pest animals to collect samples for testing. Bioinformaticians will develop algorithms, assisted by machine learning, to see potential concerns emerge in real-time. If successfully funded, the five-year project would cost less than $10 million, with research starting before the end of 2025. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
H.E. Al Owais delivers Arab Health Ministers' address at 78th World Health Assembly
Keeping up with global health developments and sharing successful practices Arab Health Ministers endorse Jeddah Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance and Bahrain's pharmaceutical forum recommendations UAE's agreement with WHO to establish global logistics hub for emergency health response Arab Health Ministers convene to enhance coordination and improve health system performance Al Owais: The UAE is a regional and global leader, charting future-ready health strategies under the UAE Centennial 2071 vision Geneva, Switzerland: H.E. Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, delivered the unified address on behalf of the Council of Arab Ministers of Health at the 78th session of the World Health Assembly, in Geneva. Al Owais also led the UAE delegation participating in the global summit. The session was attended by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and President of the assembly, alongside heads and members of delegations from WHO member states. The UAE's participation in the assembly follows the directives of its leadership to cement the country's leading role as a regional and global leader in healthcare. The UAE reiterated its commitment to supporting international efforts aimed at improving health services worldwide. Engagement in such international forums allows the UAE to keep up with global healthcare developments while exchanging expertise and best practices with nations across the world. This approach supports the country's ongoing efforts to develop the health system both locally and globally and strengthens the UAE's commitment to building a sustainable healthcare infrastructure that meets the needs of society and aligns with the nation's vision for the next 50 years. International health cooperation In his address, His Excellency extended his gratitude to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its ongoing efforts to improve global health and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. He reaffirmed the Council of Arab Ministers of Health's support for international health cooperation and commended WHO regional offices for their role in assisting Arab nations in their journey towards building a healthier future. Turning to regional crises, Al Owais highlighted the pressing health challenges in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, and the occupied Syrian Golan, emphasising the urgent need for international solidarity and concerted global action to address the humanitarian and health crises affecting these regions. During his speech, he praised the Jeddah Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance, adopted during the 4th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and welcomed the outcomes of the Arab Forum for the Development of the Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Industry, hosted by Bahrain in May 2025. Regional and global leader MoHAP Minister stated that the UAE has become a regional and global leader in healthcare, setting a benchmark for readiness, adaptability, and future-focused governance as well as for responding swiftly to evolving challenges and shaping the future. He highlighted the UAE's success story in developing an integrated and sustainable health system, noting how the country has embraced digital technologies and forward-looking strategies to meet the world's highest standards, in line with the ambitious goals of the UAE Centennial Vision 2071. His Excellency noted that the UAE has made the health sector a top priority, laying out a clear vision for the future. By encouraging innovation and building up the sector's strengths, the country has strengthened its readiness to face new challenges. He highlighted that these dedicated efforts have resulted in an integrated healthcare system that lives up to the world's highest standards. Global emergency logistics centre Al Owais also addressed the UAE's partnership with the WHO to establish a global emergency logistics centre, designed to meet the growing need for rapid response to health emergencies around the world. He stressed that the UAE strongly believes that health is a fundamental right for everyone. On the sidelines of the session, Arab health ministers, joined by His Excellency Al Owais, held a meeting to discuss shared health challenges. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continued Arab coordination in the health sector, strengthening collaboration to improve the performance of national health systems, expanding access to quality health services, and harnessing emerging technologies to promote the wellbeing of Arab communities.
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Rwanda strengthens fight against antimicrobial resistance with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) support
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a silent yet escalating threat to global health, food security, and sustainable development. The diminishing effectiveness of antimicrobial medicines against common infections in humans, animals, and plants jeopardizes our ability to treat diseases, protect livelihoods, and ensure safe food systems. Recognizing the urgency of this challenge, Rwanda has taken a step forward in its national efforts to combat AMR with the official validation and online release of its updated National Action Plan (NAP II) for the period 2025–2029. This milestone comes after months of technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which has been a longstanding partner in the country's One Health efforts. Thanks to FAO's support and funding from international partners, Rwanda revised its NAP through an inclusive, evidence-based, and multisectoral process involving national stakeholders from human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors. The newly published NAP (2025-2029) provides a unified strategic framework for Rwanda to prevent, slow down, and control the spread of resistant organisms. It emphasizes the optimal use of antimicrobials and aims to ensure the continuous availability of safe and effective medicines, a cornerstone for protecting human, animal, and environmental health. FAO's contribution to this process was comprehensive, using the FAO tools for AMR and antimicrobial use. Through the comprehensive assessment and prioritization of activities jointly using FAO Progressive Management Pathway for AMR (PMP-AMR) and FAO Assessment Tool for Laboratories and AMR Surveillance Systems (FAO-ATLASS) for five days, countries could assess the implementation of the first AMR-NAP and identify the next steps to enhance the level and inform the revision process. Moreover, FAO recruited a national consultant to guide the revision of the document and provided assistance throughout the post-editing and validation phases. FAO also played a key role in high-level advocacy with national authorities, helping secure official endorsement and publication of the NAP. The culmination of these efforts is the public online publication of the NAP, making this vital strategic document accessible to all stakeholders and the international community, a testament to transparency and commitment. 'Decreasing AMR risks to human, animal and environmental health requires first a good understanding of where and why risks exist,' stated Dr Nomathemba Mhlanga, FAO Representative ad interim in Rwanda, highlighting the importance of such foundational documents. 'This Action Plan is a significant step in building the national systems needed to protect health and livelihoods.' This NAP not only provides Rwanda with a clear roadmap to address AMR but also strengthens its capacity to contribute to regional and global efforts to mitigate this pervasive threat. By ensuring the responsible use of antimicrobials, enhancing surveillance, and promoting infection prevention and control across human, animal, and agricultural sectors, Rwanda is better positioned to protect its population, its economy, and its environment. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
