ASM Cosponsors Antimicrobial Resistance Event

Sept. 26, 2019

On Monday, September 23, ASM was pleased to cosponsor “A Night Celebrating Global Antimicrobial Resistance Fighters” along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Antimicrobial Resistance Fighter Coalition, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and CDC Foundation.

ASM Leadership Attends AMR Event
 
The event took place in New York City, alongside the United Nations General Assembly. It featured remarks from:
  • Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
  • Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region
  • Juan Pablo Uribe Restrepo, Colombian Minister of Health and Social Protection, and
  • Dame Sally Claire Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England.

A key focus of the evening was addressing the need to increase awareness of AMR by engaging and educating participants in a multi-media experience showcasing the global impact of AMR and actions that can be taken to decrease the risk. It included three types of engagements:
 
  • Art highlighting AMR issues: this featured several past prize-winners from ASM’s annual Agar Art Contest.
  • A discussion with global AMR experts including the announcement new multi-country research (commissioned by Wellcome Trust), exploring the most effective ways to frame AMR to drive policy action and increase public support for political prioritization of the issue.  
  • A new documentary film, Antimicrobial Resistance Fighters, focusing on individuals combating AMR today.
 Sec. Azar at AMR Event
During his remarks, Secretary Azar highlighted the AMR challenge, a year-long effort spearheaded by CDC to call global stakeholders to action on antibiotic resistance and solicit One Health commitments to accelerate combating AMR locally and globally. “Continuing our fight against AMR with the same vigor we’ve seen over the last year will lead to lower rates of infection, lower healthcare costs, reduced human suffering, and lives saved,” noted Azar.

You can watch the recording of Secretary Azar's remarks and the rest of the antimicrobial resistance fighters celebrated on September 23. 
 
 

Author: ASM Advocacy

ASM Advocacy
ASM Advocacy is making it easy and providing opportunities for members to advocate for evidence-based scientific policy.