In a landmark announcement, the UK government has pledged a staggering £210 million to fortify the battle against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This substantial funding, hailing from the UK aid budget, will be channelled to empower state-of-the-art laboratories, enhance disease surveillance systems, and bolster the international workforce dedicated to combating this silent global menace.
The funding, directed towards the esteemed Fleming Fund, is set to be allocated over the next three years, with a specific focus on addressing AMR in regions across Asia and Africa. This initiative not only seeks to mitigate the risk posed to the United Kingdom but also aims to contribute significantly to the global endeavor to curb AMR.
AMR, characterized by bacteria evolving to render antibiotics and existing treatments ineffective, claims a staggering 1.27 million lives annually worldwide. Alarming statistics reveal that one in five of these deaths occur in children under the age of five. In 2019, AMR was attributed to a startling 7,000 to 35,000 fatalities in the UK alone.
To combat this burgeoning health crisis, the funding will facilitate the augmentation of surveillance capabilities in up to 25 countries, particularly those most affected by the AMR threat. Nations such as Uganda, Indonesia, Ghana, Kenya, and Papua New Guinea will witness extensive upgrades to more than 250 laboratories, equipping them with cutting-edge equipment. Notably, this investment incorporates the deployment of advanced genome sequencing technology, which promises to revolutionize the tracking of bacterial transmission between humans, animals, and their environment.
Furthermore, the initiative intends to fortify the international healthcare workforce by providing support for 20,000 training sessions targeted at laboratory staff, pharmacists, and hospital personnel. Over 200 scholarships under the Fleming Fund will be granted to foster expertise in microbiology, AMR policy, and the One Health concept, emphasizing the interrelation between human health, animal well-being, and environmental factors.
Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, underscored the gravity of AMR, referring to it as a “silent killer” and highlighting its significance at the G20 meeting in India. He emphasized the urgency to curtail its progress and asserted that the historic funding injection will empower at-risk nations to confront the crisis head-on, ultimately ensuring global safety.
This colossal investment also builds on the government’s ongoing efforts to incentivize pharmaceutical companies to develop novel antibiotics, a strategy that several G20 nations are contemplating adopting.
Dame Sally Davies, the UK Special Envoy on AMR, expressed her pride and optimism regarding the Fleming Fund’s potential to combat AMR and strengthen global pandemic preparedness. She underscored the importance of data-driven actions and catalyzing investment, emphasizing the need for collective action to create a world free from drug-resistant infections.
This monumental investment will further the UK-India Fleming Fund partnership’s second phase, worth up to £3 million. It will expedite collaboration on AMR surveillance across various One Health sectors, facilitating the realization of both countries’ 2030 roadmap.
As part of this commitment, the Secretary of State will visit India’s National Centre for Disease Control, where the Indian government and the Fleming Fund are joining forces to combat antimicrobial resistance. The visit will also feature a showcase of innovative health technology, aimed at fostering the already transformative tech partnership between the UK and India in the healthcare domain.
The G20 Health Ministers’ meeting, hosted in Gandhinagar, India, from August 18 to 19, 2023, marks a significant platform for international collaboration in the battle against AMR, underscoring the urgency and necessity of global cooperation to address this growing threat.
With this momentous funding commitment, the UK takes a pioneering step in the global fight against AMR, underlining its dedication to safeguarding public health and strengthening international collaboration in the face of this formidable health challenge.
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