Antimicrobial Resistance Emerges as Major Global Health Threat, WHO Warns
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rapidly emerging as one of the most serious global health threats, with experts warning that common infections could once again become deadly if urgent action is not taken.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), antibiotics that have saved millions of lives over decades are losing their effectiveness due to misuse and overuse. Currently, one in six bacterial infections worldwide is resistant to antibiotics, with the situation more severe in Africa, where one in five infections is already resistant.
In 2019 alone, antimicrobial-resistant infections directly caused 1.27 million deaths and contributed to nearly five million additional deaths globally. Projections indicate that, without intervention, AMR could claim up to 10 million lives annually by 2050.
WHO Laboratory Surveillance Officer Dr Filipa Vaz warned that the impact of AMR extends beyond health. “Without effective antibiotics, routine medical procedures such as surgery, cancer treatment and organ transplants become extremely risky,” she said.
AMR also carries significant economic and social consequences. Estimates suggest the crisis could cost the global economy US$3.4 trillion annually by 2030 and push 28 million people into poverty, further straining fragile health systems.
In Africa, diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, HIV and respiratory infections are increasingly affected by drug resistance. Angola is no exception, as resistant infections threaten both public health outcomes and economic stability.
Experts stress that AMR is not limited to human health. The excessive use of antibiotics in livestock, food production and poor pharmaceutical waste management contribute to the spread of resistant microorganisms in soil and water. This has prompted calls for a One Health approach, integrating human, animal and environmental health responses.
In September 2024, world leaders adopted a United Nations political declaration on AMR, committing to reduce deaths linked to antimicrobial resistance by 10 per cent by 2030. The declaration also calls for improved global surveillance, responsible use of antimicrobials, reduced agricultural usage, and universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities.
Angola has begun aligning with these commitments. During World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, the country hosted a national workshop at the National Health Research Institute, bringing together stakeholders from health, agriculture, animal health and environmental sectors. The meeting laid the groundwork for the development of a National Action Plan against AMR.
Health experts emphasise that tackling antimicrobial resistance requires coordinated action at all levels. Healthcare professionals are urged to prescribe antibiotics responsibly, patients to avoid self-medication and complete prescribed treatments, and farmers to reduce antimicrobial use through improved practices.
“Antimicrobial resistance is invisible, but its consequences are real,” Dr Vaz said. “Every decision matters. Acting today is essential to prevent a return to a time when simple infections were often fatal.”
The WHO continues to call for increased investment in surveillance, laboratory capacity, community education and policy enforcement to curb the growing AMR crisis.
