JEDDAH: The Saudi minister of health, Fahad Al-Jalajel, and the president of the International Automobile Federation, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, have urged all countries to develop more effective national action plans to combat antimicrobial resistance.
The primary focus, they said, should be on increasing community awareness of the issue and ensuring sustainable access to essential medicines.
The call was made during a tour of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit following the Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, hosted by the Kingdom in Jeddah from Nov. 15-16.
More than 57 ministers and deputy ministers of health and agriculture participated in the conference which boasted the theme “From Declaration to Implementation” and aimed at developing measures to reduce fatalities from antibiotic-resistant infections, which are projected to reach 10 million annually by 2050 without prompt intervention.
Al-Jalajel emphasized the importance of raising awareness about antimicrobial resistance as a critical element of each state’s action plan. He also highlighted the need for the rational use of antibiotics in both human medicine and food production to mitigate this “silent” and growing epidemic.
He said that the FIA president’s support “strengthens our efforts by encouraging motorsport clubs to collaborate with their governments and public and private institutions in their respective countries to implement our recommendations,” underscoring the significance of the One Health approach in addressing the global challenge.
Ben Sulayem urged 150 motorsport and motorcycle clubs worldwide to support the UN’s international declaration and the outcomes of the Jeddah meeting by advocating for the rational use of medicines and promoting expanded access to the latest treatments and diagnostics.
The World Health Organization’s director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed gratitude to the Saudi Ministry of Health and the FIA president for leading the global initiative.
He said: “I am grateful to Saudi Arabia and the FIA for their commitment to addressing the dual challenge of ensuring access to antimicrobials and promoting their responsible use.”
The conference culminated in the approval of the Jeddah Commitments, marking a significant milestone in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance, a critical threat to public health, food security, and sustainable development.
Speaking at the presentation and adoption of the Jeddah Commitments, Al-Jalajel emphasized that they advanced the global AMR agenda with impactful actions, not just for today but for years to come, and said: “It’s time to act.”
He added: “I believe these commitments form the basis of a program that reflects our decisions at the UN. They are critical building blocks for member states and international bodies to take significant action against AMR.”
The Jeddah Commitments help to build upon the political declaration adopted at the 79th UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR in September, and aim to translate political will into practical, actionable steps.
The Jeddah Commitments include measures on strengthened governance, enhanced surveillance and stewardship, capacity building, research and development, and the promotion of public awareness through educational initiatives.
The commitments further stipulate the creation of a new biotech bridge to boost research, development, and innovation, leveraging biotechnology to address AMR challenges.
Al-Jalajel also announced the establishment of an AMR One Health Learning Hub and a Regional Antimicrobial Access and Logistics Hub in Saudi Arabia, aimed at fostering global collaboration and improving access to essential antimicrobials and diagnostics.
He said: “We must continue to grow this coalition of the willing to include a larger community of organizations and individuals that take a stand and act against AMR.” He also announced Nigeria as the host of the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on the issue.
He added: “To maintain momentum, we propose a stronger mechanism, the troika system, to drive forward action and implementation through 2025 and 2026 until the fifth ministerial meeting. I look forward to working with Nigeria as the newest member of the troika.”
The troika system — a new mechanism to deepen collaboration between former, current, and future hosts — is a lasting legacy of the Jeddah meeting.
The Jeddah event concluded with a call to action by all member states to uphold their commitments and work toward achieving the 2030 goals outlined in the UNGA Political Declaration on AMR.
