By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
As the world marks World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm over the escalating threat of drug-resistant infections, especially in Africa. Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, stated this in a message urging collective action to protect public health and secure the future.
This year’s campaign, themed “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” is a call for urgent action to combat AMR, a crisis described as one of the most pressing global health threats of our time.
“Each year, millions of lives are put at risk because medicines that once cured infections no longer work,” Dr Janabi said. “AMR is everyone’s business.”
According to recent data, AMR directly caused 1.14 million deaths in 2021, with sub-Saharan Africa bearing the highest burden. The WHO warns that common infections, especially those caused by bacteria like E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, are increasingly resistant to treatment.
The misuse and overuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals, combined with poor hygiene and sanitation, continue to fuel this silent pandemic. WHO stressed the need for stronger surveillance and education systems to drive behaviour change.
All 47 African Member States now have multisectoral National Action Plans (NAPs) to combat AMR through a One Health approach – integrating human, animal, and environmental health. The WHO has also supported 25 countries through the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) and led leadership training with technical partners to improve national AMR responses.
WHO is further assisting Member States in adopting stewardship strategies: 32 countries are implementing programmes to promote responsible use of antimicrobials in communities and health facilities.
Dr Janabi called on governments, health professionals, regulators, civil society, and the public to intensify efforts:
Government: Translate political commitments into sustainable domestic funding. Health workers: Prescribe and dispense antimicrobials responsibly. Environmental authorities: Enforce regulations on waste disposal from hospitals and pharmaceutical plants. Communities and youth: Avoid self-medication, complete treatment courses, promote hygiene and stay informed.
“Doing nothing is not an option,” Dr Janabi cautioned. “We must act now to ensure that future generations can still benefit from life-saving medicines.”
WHO’s ongoing collaboration with FAO, UNEP, WOAH, Africa CDC, and AU-IBAR is expected to further strengthen AMR surveillance, education, and policy implementation across the continent.
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