4th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance on November 14 -16, 2024

The Fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 15-16 November 2024, building on the momentum of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on AMR this September.

Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel, the health minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, organised the conference, which included 450 delegates from UN organisations and ministers and specialists from 57 nations in the fields of agriculture, health, and the environment.

Under the theme From Declaration to Implementation – Accelerating Actions Through Multisectoral Partnerships for the Containment of AMR, the event addressed critical challenges impeding progress in the fight against AMR and focused on systematic solutions.

A key highlight of the conference was the adoption of the Jeddah Commitments, a comprehensive framework for global action to combat AMR through a One Health approach. These commitments aim to translate the commitments outlined in the Political Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance into actionable steps, focusing on strengthening governance, stewardship, surveillance, capacity development, research and development, manufacturing, access, and disposal to address AMR challenges.

Establishing an Independent Panel for Evidence on Action Against AMR by 2025, putting in place functional national AMR coordination mechanisms, and encouraging international data exchange via platforms as GLASS AMR/AMC, ANIMUSE, and INFARM are some of the major initiatives included in the Jeddah Commitments. In order to guarantee the sensible and appropriate use of antibiotics, the commitments also place a strong focus on following the rules and codes of practice established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

The commitments further include the establishment of the One Health AMR Learning Hub, which will focus on sharing best practices and building capabilities for implementing multisectoral National Action Plans on AMR. They also propose creating a Regional Antimicrobial Access and Logistics Hub to foster sustainable procurement and ensure access to safe and effective antimicrobials. Additionally, global leaders called for increased investment in research, innovation, and the sustainable manufacturing of antimicrobials and diagnostics.

The Jeddah meeting concluded with a call on all Member States to commit to their pledges and work towards achieving the goals in the UN General Assembly Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance by 2030. Nigeria will host the next Ministerial Summit in 2026 to take stock of implementable initiatives and progress.

The 4th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) brought together Health Ministers, leaders, and experts worldwide. The event focused on practical, cross-sector solutions to the growing AMR crisis. It marked a crucial step forward in addressing this “silent pandemic.”

On behalf of the Bangladesh NGO Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), I was honored to participate in and speak at this high-level gathering as part of the Quadripartite AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform. This invitation underscores the increasing recognition of empowering and amplifying voices for the change of AMR initiatives in advancing One Health approaches to combat AMR.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CONFERENCE

1. Adoption of the Jeddah Commitments:
   A key outcome of the conference was the adoption of the Jeddah Commitments, a set of practical and cross-sectoral measures to combat AMR globally. These commitments emphasize collaboration across human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors and aim to translate previous high-level declarations into actionable frameworks.
2. Establishment of New Hubs:
   Saudi Arabia announced the creation of an AMR ‘One Health’ Learning Hub and a Regional Antimicrobial Access and Logistics Hub. These initiatives will facilitate research, diagnostics, and access to essential antimicrobials, fostering global collaboration.
3. Multi-Stakeholder Engagement:
   The conference included dynamic discussions on AMR prevention, sustainable financing, and the role of public-private partnerships. The AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform highlighted a bottom-up approach, bringing grassroots perspectives into global policymaking.
4. Focus on Developing Countries:
   The Jeddah Commitments acknowledged disparities in capacity across nations, particularly emphasizing support for developing countries to ensure no one is left behind in the fight against AMR.

My participation in the Jeddah conference reaffirmed our belief that CSOs and Media mobilization are vital interventions in the AMR fight. Together, we can combat AMR and build a healthier, sustainable future for all.