PM Oli calls for promoting natural health care approaches to prevent AMR

NEW YORK: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stressed on promoting natural health care approaches to prevent infections and reduce the need for antibiotics, thereby supporting the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

PM Oli was addressing the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as part of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

The theme of the AMR session was – “Investing in the present and securing our future together: accelerating multi-sectoral global, regional and national actions to address antimicrobial resistance.”

Stating that Antimicrobial Resistance has emerged as a critical global public health issue, the PM said Nepal has placed AMR as a top public health priority, recognizing the importance of a ‘One Health’ approach.

“As part of our commitment to fighting AMR, Nepal’s National Health Policy of 2019 has also prioritized AMR as a major public health issue, underlining the need to regulate and control antibiotic use effectively,” he said, adding that Nepal has formulated a National Action Plan on AMR and introduced National Antibiotics Treatment Guidelines to provide clear direction.

However, national efforts alone are insufficient to combat threats posed by AMR, the PM said and Nepal, therefore, calls for a robust collaborative global response.

He said, “First, we must adequately invest in health infrastructures, research, and development. Second, we must advance sustainable agricultural practices, such as organic farming, which promote healthy lifestyles and secure food safety, while simultaneously protecting our environment. Third, there is an urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks and surveillance systems to monitor the use of antimicrobials across sectors. Fourth, stronger international collaboration is essential for the development of new antibiotics, alternative treatments, and innovative solutions.”

Noting that Nepal has developed a vision of ‘Nirogi Nepal – Healthy Nepal’ to promote overall health of Nepali people, PM Oli on the occasion asserted that our efforts are directed to minimize the use of antibiotics and foster a healthier, more sustainable future. “Let us work together to safeguard the future of people and planet, leaving no one behind,” PM Oli exhorted.