Jeddah: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases (Weqaa), hosted an international workshop in Jeddah today to discuss the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) guiding plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in veterinary medicine.
Weqaa CEO Eng. Ayman Alghamdi, Undersecretary for Animal and Fisheries Resources Department at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture Dr. Ali Al-Sheikhi, GCC countries representatives, and other relevant stakeholders attended the event.
At the workshop, participants reviewed the GCC’s four-year plan (2024-2027) to address the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the veterinary field, following the One Health Approach. The plan, proposed by the Kingdom, aims to enhance cooperation and harmonize efforts among GCC countries, emphasizing the importance of collaborative action to combat this global threat to human and animal health, as well as the shared environment.
The workshop provided an
opportunity for GCC countries to exchange experience and knowledge in tackling antimicrobial resistance.
The Kingdom’s hosting of this workshop underscores its unwavering commitment to strengthening efforts to address AMR.
The workshop shed light on the accomplishments of the national committee on antimicrobial resistance, emphasizing the Kingdom’s role in leading the fight against AMR among GCC member states. It also highlighted the efforts of GCC countries to combat AMR and explored the creation of a roadmap to address this issue, along with mechanisms to build member states’ capacity and enable them to exchange expertise.
The 2024-2027 GCC guiding plan on AMR in the veterinary field is designed to ensure long-term sustainability and control of animal diseases. Its objectives include promoting the effective and safe use of antibiotics to reduce infections, fatalities, and prolonged treatment durations.
The plan focuses on developing national policies, multi-sectoral procedures, and mechanisms to effecti
vely and sustainably address AMR, in line with the One Health approach.
Source: Saudi Press Agency