Topic: 2024-Spread of Animal Viruses
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Alexander Haas
Committee: ECOSOC
Topic: 2024 – The Spread of Animal Viruses
Country: Pakistan
School: Portage Central
Delegate Name: Alexander Haas
Animal viruses, also called zoonoses, are diseases that can be transferred from animals to humans. The nation of Pakistan recognizes the importance and presence of zoonotic cases and in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) Pakistan has committed to addressing zoonotic cases as a priority basis (2). Around 7-10% of all farmers in Pakistan encounter zoonosis and in Pakistan, diseases like tuberculosis, influenza, and other tick spread diseases are commonly documented (1).
In the past decades Pakistan’s population has had large rises in zoonotic cases and other unknown infections. This rise in zoonoses and other infections is related to Pakistan’s large antibiotic resistances caused by misuse and abuse of antibiotics. In Pakistan over 70% of patients are prescribed antibiotics. In effort to reduce resistances and prescriptions of antibiotics Pakistan has released a National Strategic Framework to decrease the spread of zoonoses and other bacterial pathogens (1).
The main objectives in the National Strategic Framework are as follows. Improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through effective communication, education and training. Strengthen the knowledge and evidence base through surveillance and research. Reduce the incidence of infection through effective sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention measures. Optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines in human and animal health. And finally, develop the economic case for sustainable investment that takes account of the needs of all countries, and increase investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions (1). These objectives shall be achieved by: establishing and supporting “One-Health” coalitions, awareness of zoonoses will be brought into communities, and potable water will be provided at local and federal levels.
Citations
https://www.nih.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/national-strategic-framework-AMR.pdf
https://www.emro.who.int/pak/programmes/antimicrobial-resistance.html
