WHO Urges Urgent Global Action on Rising Antimicrobial Resistance Crisis

This year’s theme, “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” underscores the urgency of tackling drug resistance before it becomes an irreversible global catastrophe.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is accelerating at an alarming rate, threatening to reverse decades of medical progress and placing human, animal, plant, and environmental health at unprecedented risk. As World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) approaches, from 18 to 24 November 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and global partners are calling on all countries to transform political commitments into concrete, life-saving action.

This year’s theme, “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” underscores the urgency of tackling drug resistance before it becomes an irreversible global catastrophe. The theme reflects renewed momentum following the 2024 United Nations High-Level Meeting on AMR, during which world leaders adopted a political declaration acknowledging AMR as one of the most critical health challenges of the century.

A Growing Global Health Emergency

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve to resist the medicines designed to kill them. When treatments lose effectiveness, infections become harder or impossible to cure, increasing the risk of severe illness, disability and death. Already, AMR is estimated to cause over one million deaths annually, with projections suggesting this toll could significantly rise by 2050 without urgent intervention.

Antibiotics that once cured everyday infections—such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and sepsis—are failing at a growing rate. Vulnerable populations, including newborns, older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and those living in low-resource settings, face the highest risk.

“All countries are affected” – WHO

Dr Yvan Hutin, Director of Antimicrobial Resistance at WHO, emphasized the universal nature of the crisis:

“All countries are faced with antimicrobial resistance. Drug-resistant pathogens are increasing everywhere, and the less access people have to prevention, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment, the more likely they are to suffer from drug-resistant infections. World AMR Awareness Week reminds us that protecting antimicrobials is a shared responsibility.”

The risk extends far beyond human health. AMR threatens agriculture, food security, global trade, and ecosystems. Resistant pathogens can spread through food chains, water systems, animal-human interactions, and environmental contamination, underscoring the need for a One Health approach.

A Call for Coordinated, Cross-Sector Action

AMR knows no borders—and the solutions cannot either. WHO and partners urge coordinated action from:

• National policy-makers and ministries

• Health workers and hospital administrators

• Veterinarians and livestock producers

• Farmers and agricultural associations

• Environmental and wastewater managers

• Researchers, academics, and laboratory networks

• Civil society, community groups, and educators

Every action contributes to curbing resistance. Hospitals can strengthen antimicrobial stewardship programmes; farmers can reduce antibiotic overuse in livestock; environmental agencies can improve wastewater surveillance; pharmaceutical companies can boost research into new antimicrobials and diagnostics.

Turning Commitments Into Action

The 2025 WAAW campaign encourages countries to:

• Strengthen AMR surveillance systems to detect emerging threats

• Improve access to quality-assured medicines and diagnostics, especially in low- and middle-income countries

• Reduce inappropriate antibiotic use in humans, animals and agriculture

• Invest in innovation—including new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tools

• Build resilient health and food systems that support prevention and appropriate treatment

The campaign also builds on recent global commitments, including the WHA resolution on AMR, the 2024 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting, and the fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR.

The AMR Quadripartite: A United Front

The AMR response is spearheaded by the Quadripartite agencies:

• WHO

• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

• World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)

These organizations provide technical guidance, advocacy support, educational materials, and global leadership to help countries design and implement AMR action plans. Resources are available on the official WAAW campaign website, making it easier for governments, civil society, and communities to coordinate events and outreach efforts.

Raising Awareness, Supporting Action, Saving Lives

World AMR Awareness Week is not just an annual observance—it is a catalyst for global mobilisation. From school campaigns and media outreach to policy summits and community workshops, WAAW aims to inspire sustainable action that brings AMR under control.

The call to action is clear: We must act now to protect the medicines that protect us.

With collaboration, innovation, and sustained political commitment, the world can preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials and build a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for generations to come.