New “One Health Global Leaders Group” Seeks Candidates To Help Combat Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial Resistance 30/07/2020 •
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a notorious bacteria resistant to many antibiotics.

The United Nations Interagency Coordination Group (IACG) is seeking candidates for a  “One Health Global Leaders Group” that will be established to fight the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

Individuals from civil society and the private sector  are invited to submit an application to serve in the Global Leaders Group by 31 August 2020. Former Ministers of Health or senior government officials with experience in battling AMR will be nominated and considered through a separate process.

The One Health Leaders Group aims to advise global and national stakeholders to help control AMR, and advocate for more resources to be dedicated to controlling AMR. Membership will be 2-3 years long, with the possibility of a second 2-year term with agreement from the co-chairs and Secretariat.

Disease-causing microbes that are becoming resistant to common antimicrobials claim around 700,000 lives a year, according to the IACG, which represents the World Health Organization, the Food and Agricultural Organization, and the World Organisation for Animal Health. Rising antimicrobial resistance is caused by misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans and plants, pouring pharmaceutical waste in water sources and poor infection control measures.

Low and middle-IACG discussed Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC’s) experiencing a greater burden of AMR;within poor basic services and weak healthcare systems while many are still suffering with implementing National Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plans. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) anticipated 2.4 million deaths due to antimicrobial resistance in Europe, North America and Australia between 2015 and 2050.

Applications to the “One Health Leaders Group” must include Curriculum vitae (CV) of 2 pages (500 words) maximum and a motivation letter of 2 pages (500 words) maximum highlighting their contributions and what they will bring to the Global Leaders Group. Applications should be submitted to amr-tjs@who.int. More information, including terms of reference and an information note about the application, can be found here. 

The deadline for representatives from civil society and the private sector to apply for the “One Health Leaders Group” is 31 August 2020.

Image Credits: NIAID.

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