A high-level call for urgent action to tackle the global scourge of antibiotic resistance

The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners will call on world leaders to address critical global health challenges and invest in global public health, at high-level meetings during the week 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79)which will be held in New York from September 20 to 30, 2024.

other High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 26 September 2024 will be the main official health-focused event during the UN General Assembly's high-level week. No decisive action, like the one mentioned in the final text draft political declaration for the meeting, AMR will cause even more global suffering, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to drugs, making people sicker and increasing the spread of hard-to-treat infections, leading to illness and death. Intergovernmental negotiations for the declaration were co-facilitated by Malta and Barbados. Thethe first UN high-level meeting on AMRtook place in 2016.

“Antimicrobial resistance threatens a century of medical progress and could return us to the pre-antibiotic era, where infections that can be cured today could become a death sentence,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, who will address the high level meeting on AMR. “This is a threat to all countries at all income levels, which is why a strong, rapid and well-coordinated global response is urgently needed.”

UNGA79 is being held at a crucial time as the world continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Despite significant progress, progress towards the health goals has continued to lag, exacerbated by the ongoing humanitarian, social and climate crisis. Millions of people still lack access to life-saving health services, underscoring the link between health and sustainable development.

The Future Summit, to be held on 22-23 September, will bring together world leaders to forge a new international consensus on how to achieve better results in the present, including ensuring that global decision-making is informed by science, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and safeguarding the future. During the summit, heads of state and senior government officials are expected to endorse the Pact for the Future, which will include the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations. Health priorities are well reflected in the results, including the importance of access to health services and the achievement of universal health coverage.

During the week, WHO officials will participate in formal and informal health-focused events ranging from digital health, maternal, child and adolescent health, communicable and non-communicable diseases and mental health, to action on climate change, advancing progress towards universal health coverage, and pandemic preparedness and response.

“Strong health systems, equitable access to health services and robust pandemic preparedness are key to a safer and healthier world,” said Dr Tedros. “We must harness the power of digital technologies to bridge gaps in access to health services and build resilient systems that can respond to our world's multiple overlapping health challenges, from epidemics, epidemics and pandemics to climate change and the burden of non-communicable diseases.”

The UN General Assembly takes place during WHO's first investment round, a series of engagements and ongoing efforts to secure sustainable funding for WHO's core work for the period 2025-2028. dr. Tedros and WHO representatives will convey the importance of investing in global health and a strong and fully funded WHO working with countries to improve health for all. On September 23, Dr Tedros and EIB President Nadia Calviño will hold a live-streamed fireside chat moderated by Politico's Suzanne Lynch on why investment in primary health care is critical at a time of heightened shocks from disease outbreaks like measles.

Afterwards, later in the day, the European Investment Bank and the World Health Organization will co-host a high-level roundtable under the new Health Impact Investment Platform, which will focus country-level activities to boost vaccination and community health. Both meetings will be streamed via WHO and Dr Tedros' social media channels.

On 24 September, WHO will host the Third Annual Meeting of Heads of State and Government on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), to catalyze commitment at the highest levels of government and strengthen partner engagement ahead of the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly. -level meeting on NCDs and mental health in 2025.

From 22 to 29 September 2024, WHO will participate in key events, panels and initiatives during Climate Week NYC. Bringing together world leaders, business, policy makers and activists, the events will consider solutions to pressing climate challenges ahead of critical international summits.

WHO experts will make it a priority to ensure that the health argument for climate action takes center stage in global discussions. They will emphasize that climate change is not only an environmental problem, but also an urgent health crisis, which directly affects millions of people around the world.

Rising temperatures, poor air quality and disrupted ecosystems contribute to the spread of infectious diseases, respiratory diseases and malnutrition.

During the UN General Assembly, WHO will engage in numerous events and discussions focusing on pandemic preparedness and response, even as Member States continue their negotiations for a new convention, treaty or international instrument or agreement.

Virtual access to UNGA79

Official meetings of the UN General Assembly and some of the WHO-sponsored events are available virtually ONE WebTV . Visit WHO at UNGA 79website for additional information.