26 November 2017 – WHO country office in Egypt, in collaboration with Cairo University and the Ministry of Health and Population, organized a scientific event on 19 November 2017 to discuss the issue of antimicrobial resistance during World Antibiotic Awareness Week under the global slogan “Always seek the advice of a health care practitioner before taking antibiotics”.
The event took place at the Faculty of Medicine in the presence of its Dean, hospital directors, heads of clinical departments, members of the Public Health department, representatives from different institutes and the Ministry of Health and Population.
Cairo university hospitals and the Ministry of Health and Population presented their achievements and identified challenges in establishing an effective antibiotic resistance surveillance system in their health care facilities and reviewed the way forward for future collaboration and coordination.
This activity aimed to highlight the national situation of antimicrobial resistance, including threats to the health sector. It targeted medical students and hospital directors and heads of clinical departments in Cairo university hospitals. It aimed to promote the need for research and encourage the adoption of proactive measures to reduce antimicrobial resistance in Egypt.
Discussions extended to the Ministry's national multisectoral antimicrobial resistance action plan and the national capacities needed to achieve the 5 objectives of the plan:
- improving awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance through effective communication, education and training;
- strengthening knowledge through surveillance and research;
- reducing the incidence of infection through improved infection prevention and control measures;
- optimizing the use of antimicrobial agents in human and animal health;
- promoting research and innovation at the national level.
Related links
World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 13–19 November 2017