## At the UN, World Leaders are Negotiating the Biggest Health Issue You’ve Never Heard Of **By [Author Name]** **March 8, 2023** Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is waning and monkeypox has largely disappeared, world health leaders have turned their attention to the next big threat: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to the medicines used to treat them. Without urgent action, AMR could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050! In particular, AMR is a major threat to vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly. AMR can also lead to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and reduced quality of life. Strategies to solve this problem are dire. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified AMR as one of the top 10 global health threats. In 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on AMR, calling for a global response to the threat. This week, world leaders are meeting at the UN to negotiate a new global agreement on AMR. The agreement is expected to include measures to: **Increase investment in research and development of new antibiotics.** **Promote the responsible use of antibiotics.** **Strengthen surveillance of AMR.** **Improve infection prevention and control.** The agreement is a critical step in the fight against AMR. However, it is important to remember that AMR is a complex issue with no easy solutions. It will require a sustained effort from all stakeholders, including governments, the pharmaceutical industry, and the public, to address the threat of AMR. **Here are some additional facts about AMR:** * AMR is a natural process that occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites adapt to the drugs used to treat them. * AMR can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex, or location. * AMR is a major threat to global health security. * There is no single solution to the problem of AMR. It will require a multi-pronged approach that includes: * Investing in research and development of new antibiotics. * Promoting the responsible use of antibiotics. * Strengthening surveillance of AMR. * Improving infection prevention and control.
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