70 years ago 9 out of 10 people
who contracted pneumonia died.
After penicillin was discovered
only 1 out of 10 died.
A GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IS LOOMING
Ninety years ago penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming, shockingly it took a further 15 years before the miraculous life-saving version was made available to ill patients suffering various infections. As Sir Alexander said
When Sir Alexander Fleming gave his Nobel Prize speech he warned against the overuse of penicillin as it would speed up the development of drug resistance by bacteria, a natural process. The world did not listen!
Today we are all standing on the threshold of a post-antibiotic age and the message from scientists, politicians and governments everywhere is the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) problem facing the global community is very complex and there is no simple solution. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is being described as a 'ticking time bomb' that poses an "apocalyptic" threat to public health. It is one of the most serious and growing risks posed to human health and development worldwide. There is no safe harbour; young or old, rich or poor - we all are vulnerable.
Modern healthcare is reliant on the use of antibiotics for cancer treatments, operations and to prevent the most simple of infections from becoming fatal.
The World Health Organization released a list of 12 superbugs that have become resistant to all of the known antibiotics. The UN has urged Governments to take urgent action following the publication of Securing the Future from Drug Resistant Infections Read the Summary of Recommendations and Key Messages at https://www.who.int/antimicrobial-resistance/interagency-coordination-group/IACG_final_summary_EN.pdf?ua=1.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), is a global crisis that has arrived. It threatens millions of lives and is destroys a century of progress in health and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Because the drivers of antimicrobial resistance lie in humans, animals, plants, food and the environment, a sustained One Health response is essential to engage and unite all stakeholders around a shared vision and goals. Unless the world acts urgently, antimicrobial resistance will have disastrous impact within a generation.
THERE IS NO TIME TO WAIT
If we fail to combat AMR, it is predicted that by 2050, drug-resistant
infections could kill more than 10 million people worldwide every year.
Stronger political leadership, advocacy, coordination and accountability are needed at all levels to enable a sustained One Health response to antimicrobial resistance. All stakeholder groups – including governments, civil society and the private sector – need to be engaged and to collaborate in an unprecedented effort across the human, animal, plant, food and feed production and environmental sectors, based on a shared vision and goals.
"Never underestimate the importance of consumer groups and civil society in combating antimicrobial resistance. They are the important movers, shakers and frontline players, especially in the eye of social media."
Dr Margaret Chan.
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Director-General from 2007-2017
Social media is how the modern consumer has grown accustomed to communicating and for Global Health Dialogue this is a natural base for all its online activities. The social platforms are where people turn for reliable and relevant content, discovery, research, peer-to-peer recommendation and advice. It is hoped our various health platforms will prove useful and contribute to healthier and safer lives for all.