Message from Dr Takeshi Kasai, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, at Tokyo AMR One Health Conference

Ladies and gentleman, distinguished guests – greetings from Manila!

I apologize not being able to join you in person today, but I’m pleased to provide this short message on a topic of crucial importance for the future of public health.

I have three key messages.

First, our future is not secure if we do not fight antimicrobial resistance today.

The growing resistance to antimicrobials we see today is the product of the actions of yesterday. These actions now threaten to reverse the enormous gains in medicine and public health of recent decades.

Take malaria, for example. Resistance to first line treatment has now been confirmed in 5 countries in the Greater Mekong sub region – a huge blow to our efforts to eliminate this disease.

Please imagine if we don’t have effective antimicrobials when next influenza pandemic occur.

The health of future generations depend on how we use our antimicrobials today. To build a region which is healthier and safer, we must take the right action to fight antimicrobial resistance today.

My second message is that change is hard. We are our own worst enemies in this fight – because the problem of AMR is, for the most part, caused by people acting with good will.

Farmers using antibiotics for animal growth. Doctors prescribing antibiotics – believing they are doing the right thing by their patients. Patients believing that, when they are feeling better, they are doing the right thing by ‘saving’ unused antibiotics for later.

These behaviors are not easy to change. But we need to change them – which leads to my third point.

Everyone has a role to play in addressing antimicrobial resistance. Farmers and the agriculture sector. Health professionals. Patients. The media. And of course, governments.

As provided in the WHO constitution, unequal development is a common danger.  AMR travels across national boundaries.  We have to make sure every country address this issue together, regardless of the size of the country and level of development.

I have been heartened to see the strong leadership at the highest levels from Japan, the UK, Germany and others.  The Honourable Health Minister of Mongolia is here today. There is now serious global commitment to address this issue.

We must seize on the opportunity created by this political momentum to create lasting change.

In closing, I would like to thank the government of Japan for hosting this meeting, and all of you for your commitment. We look forward to continuing to work with you to combat AMR. Future generations are depending on us to do so.

Thank you very much.