Topic:
Country: Ukraine
Delegate Name: Meira Gable
World Health Organization (WHO)
Ukraine
Antibiotic resistance is becoming more of an issue worldwide. With heightened rates of infection, many bacteria are becoming immune to our existing antibiotic treatments. The main reasons for this are the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) increases the severity of bacterial illnesses and makes such illnesses more difficult to treat. Additionally, AMR spread is increased through international travel. The most detrimental effects of AMR have not yet been felt, but in a few decades, many of our existing treatments may no longer be effective in treating bacterial infections, and the deadliness of many diseases will be greater.
To combat the rising levels of AMR, the WHO enacted a Global Action Plan in 2015. This plan is centered around five main goals: increasing the awareness of AMR, increasing the amount of research and monitoring of antibiotic resistance levels, reducing the number of bacterial infections, making appropriate use of antimicrobial medicines, and making sustainable investments in countering AMR. In order to implement this, the WHO has created the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS), to assist with creation of a standardized approach to dealing with AMR; the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), to help encourage research into the discovery of new antibiotics; and the Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG), to help increase international communications regarding AMR.
Ukraine has been impacted by AMR more strongly than many other countries. With one of the highest multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) rates in the world, Ukraine has been directly impacted by rising AMR rates. In 2018 Ukraine created a National Action Plan to assist in the fight against AMR and establish more awareness, along with a unified approach to confronting AMR. Beyond the high MDR-TB rates, the war in Ukraine has greatly increased the number of bacterial infections, and therefore the usage of antibiotics, causing higher antibiotic resistance. With large amounts of Ukrainian refugees escaping the war and migrating across the globe, AMR rates are increasing worldwide.
Ukraine suggests more money and resources be given to countries with high antibiotic resistance rates, particularly countries in conflict whose resources are already strained. Research into new antibiotics and bacterial treatments should be a global priority. Additionally, Ukraine recommends that international regulations be put in place to limit the use of antibiotics to situations of absolute necessity and to encourage the adherence to prescriptions of antimicrobials by medical professionals. Furthermore, Ukraine believes the WHO should publish greater information on AMR and how to prevent the spread of bacterial infections, to heighten awareness of the issue.
Works Cited
“About Antibiotic Resistance.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5 Oct. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about.html.
“Antimicrobial Resistance.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 17 Nov. 2021, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance#:~:text=Misuse%20and%20overuse%20of%20antimicrobials,be%20resistant%20to%20antimicrobial%20treatment.
“Both activists and officials agree that uncontrolled use of antibiotics will increase mortality rate in Ukraine.” Ukraine Crisis Media Center, Ukraine Crisis Media Center, 15 Nov. 2016, https://uacrisis.org/en/49527-antibiotiki-za-receptom#
Daniel, Ari. “Russia’s War with Ukraine Is Devastating for Ukraine’s War on Tb.” NPR, NPR, 19 Mar. 2022, https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/03/19/1087538209/russias-war-with-ukraine-is-devastating-for-ukraines-war-on-tb.
“Operational public health considerations for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the context of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine.” ECDC, ECDC, 8 Mar. 2022, https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/prevention-control-infectious-diseases-russia-aggression.pdf.
Stone, Judy. “Ukraine War Likely to Cause Disease Outbreaks.” WebMD, WebMD, 8 Apr. 2022, https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20220408/ukraine-war-likely-to-cause-disease-outbreaks.
“Ukraine Develops National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/21-02-2018-ukraine-develops-national-action-plan-on-antimicrobial-resistance.
“UN Health Agency Finds High Levels of Antibiotic Resistance to World’s Most Common Infections | | 1UN News.” United Nations, United Nations, 29 Jan. 2018, https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/01/1001461#.Wm-evJOplBw.
