The World Federation for Animals (WFA) has announced that it has been appointed to the World Health Organization’s Civil Society Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), joining 81 other organisations engaged in work related to antimicrobial resistance.
The WFA’s participation on the task force will be led by Dr. Masika Sophie, the group’s global health policy manager.
She will represent WFA, along with its network of over 75 member organisations, with particular focus on the ‘role that positive animal welfare plays in addressing the rising threat of AMR’, the WFA said in a statement.
Antimicrobial resistance
The World Health Organization has identified antimicrobial resistance among the leading global health threats, anticipating that it could lead to as many as 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if it is not sufficiently addressed.
Large quantities of antimicrobials are administered to farmed animals, with usage set to potentially rise by 30% between 2019 and 2040. In intensive farming systems, antimicrobials are often administered to healthy animals as a preventative measure, which can contribute to the spread of resistant pathogens.
Improved animal welfare
“Without urgent action to tackle antimicrobial resistance, we face a future where previously treatable infections can become deadly,” Dr Sophie commented.
“As a member of this task force, we can champion the role of improved animal health and welfare in reducing reliance on antimicrobials in animal farming, consequently preserving the effectiveness of these vital medicines needed by humans, animals, and plants.”
WFA’s appointment to the task force follows its leadership of the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform Action Group on Animal Welfare and the AMR Nexus.
Earlier this year, the group published a policy briefing, Embedding Animal Welfare in the IPEA Mandate: A One Health Imperative for Curbing Antimicrobial Resistance, which outlined how improved animal welfare can reduce infection risk and minimise the dependence on antimicrobials in farmed animals. Read more here.
