We must prioritise animal health systems, or risk succumbing to antimicrobial resistance

Every day around the world, treatments once seen as miracle cures fail to treat common infections in both humans and animals, because of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).  

This occurs when the microorganisms which cause disease (including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) are no longer affected by the antimicrobial medicines we use to prevent and treat the disease. 

AMR is accelerated by the overuse of antimicrobial drugs, poor prevention and control of infection, a lack of new antimicrobial drugs being developed and not enough surveillance of infection rates globally. 

As resistance worsens, more people and animals will suffer for longer as infections become more difficult to treat, leading to longer hospital admissions and higher death rates.  

It is an urgent and existential threat to us all.

The United Nations General Assembly in September made it clear we must take a One Health approach, meaning we must recognise that human, animal and environmental health are interconnected when it comes to crises like AMR.  

But really, are governments and multilateral organisations around the world truly applying a One Health approach and equally allocating resources to human, animal, and environmental health? 

Often, Brooke operates in low- and middle-income countries, which are home to the communities worst affected by the consequences of AMR.  

Often, there aren’t enough well-trained animal health professionals, who don’t have access to essential veterinary medicines and vaccines due to regional and national instability, as well as not enough government and international funding. 

Animal health professionals play a key role in promoting the correct use and preventing overuse of antimicrobial medicines, especially those working in rural communities. 

However, they are often the weak link in the chain if governments do not invest in equipping them with the skills, resources, and regulations they need to safeguard antimicrobial treatments. 

Governments and development organisations are focusing on improving diagnostics and building surveillance data relating to AMR. 

But what if animal health professionals, especially in low- and middle-income countries, never get the chance to benefit from this data? 

Because for them, and the animals they care for, what is the point in accurately diagnosing the cause of infection if you don’t have the right medicine to treat it anyway?

What if investing in animal health systems, improving animal health professionals’ skills, and widening access to essential resources is a key, often neglected part of the solution? 

This year’s World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week theme is “Educate. Advocate. Act now”. 

Brooke works to protect antimicrobials with animal health professionals through:

• Educating vets and paravets through our Animal Health and Agrovet Mentoring Frameworks 

• Our work with the World Veterinary Association to create the first global Essential Veterinary Medicine List for livestock species, advocating for wider access to veterinary medicines and vaccines to prevent the overuse of antimicrobials.  

But Brooke’s work alone isn’t enough – governments and international organisations must act now to strengthen global animal health systems and protect humans, animals and the environment from AMR.