THE HAGUE, (PNA/Xinhua) — Around 40 countries have made commitments on tackling antibiotic resistance during an international meeting in The Hague on Thursday.
Antibiotic resistance means that certain bacteria are no longer sensitive to the action of one or more types of antibiotics. Especially for people with impaired immune systems, such as hospital patients, antibiotic resistance is a great risk.
According to the participants of the conference, a global plan is needed in order to achieve a responsible use of antibiotics for humans and animals.
At the Peace Palace in The Hague, ministers and representatives of the Health and Agriculture ministries from different countries around the world discussed this topic on Wednesday and Thursday.
Among other countries, the United States, China, Russia and Indonesia have underlined the importance of agreements.
“Antibiotic resistance is not a Dutch, but a global problem,” said Edith Schippers, the Dutch Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport, at the conference, adding “It does not stop at national borders. Action is needed and I’m glad we therefore reached joint agreements.”
The countries will now, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), work on a Global Action Plan.
The plan contains measures in the area of public awareness, hygiene, regulation, supervision, research and development of new antibiotics in public-private partnership.
According to the deal, efforts should be made to public-private partnerships for the development of new antibiotics.
Besides the Netherlands, the countries present now also recognize the relationship between the use of antibiotics in animals and the development of resistance in humans. (PNA/Xinhua)