From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Published on
Last updated on
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with support from veterinary stakeholders will mark European Antimicrobial Awareness Day and World Antimicrobial Awareness Week by launching a series of information videos for pet owners to promote increased awareness and understanding of the serious global One Health challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) takes place annually on 18 November, to mark the start of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November 2024). It aims to raise awareness with regard to the global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine continues to acknowledge the ongoing collaboration and leadership from industry stakeholders, who are working to deliver the many actions contained in Ireland’s Second National Action Plan to address antimicrobial resistance, iNAP2 2021-2025. This action plan is built on a One Health framework, - developed and delivered jointly in collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Health and the human health sector, with support from the Environmental Protection Agency.
National Action Plans on AMR are an international commitment to Member States of both the European Commission and the World Health Organisation.
iNAP2 was developed following the WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. The plan contains a range of strategic interventions and activities across the human health, animal health and environmental sectors grouped under five strategic objectives aimed at:
1. Improving awareness and knowledge of AMR;
2. Enhancing surveillance of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use;
3. Reducing the spread of infection and disease;
4. Optimizing the use of antibiotics in human and animal health; and
5. Promoting research and sustainable investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is resistance of a microorganism to a drug that was originally effective for treatment of infections caused by that microorganism. Resistant microorganisms (including bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites) are able to withstand attack by antimicrobial drugs, such as antibacterial drugs (e.g., antibiotics), antifungals, antivirals, and antimalarials, so that standard treatments become ineffective and infections persist, increasing the risk of spread to others.
Antimicrobials are essential to the practice of modern medicine, enabling sophisticated medical interventions and treatments, such as chemotherapy and organ transplants.
The One Health concept is a worldwide strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment. Recognising that human health, animal health and ecosystem health are inextricably linked, One Health seeks to promote, improve and defend the health and well-being of all species by enhancing cooperation and collaboration between physicians, veterinarians, other scientific health and environmental professionals and by promoting strengths in leadership and management to achieve these goals.
There is international consensus through the One Health Initiative to which the WHO (World Health Organisation), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) and the OIE (World Health Organisation for Animal Health) are signatories, that tackling the global public health threat of AMR requires action across human and animal health sectors, agriculture and the wider environment.
At a national level the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, respectively, established the National Interdepartmental Antimicrobial Resistance Consultative Committee. It was established in 2014. Committee membership consists of representatives of both departments, relevant HSE agencies, EPA, HPRA, FSAI and other key stakeholder groupings in the human and animal health sectors.