Silent Pandemic: Antimicrobial Resistance Poses Global Health, Economic Threat – WHO

ABUJA – Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), often dubbed a “silent pandemic,” is rapidly emerging as one of the most pressing global health threats, with wide-reaching implications that stretch beyond healthcare, affecting economies, food security, and development.

This was highlighted by Dr. Chavan Laxmikant, Technical Officer at the World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria, during a two day training initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) to empower Journalists to drive the change narrative with compelling data-driven health story on Thursday in Abuja.

“AMR is no longer a looming threat; it’s here, and it’s silently destabilizing health systems and economies worldwide,” warned Dr. Chavan. He noted that in 2019, an alarming 4.95 million deaths were attributed to drug-resistant bacterial infections globally, with 1.27 million directly caused by AMR. Vulnerable groups such as children under five and the elderly are disproportionately affected, as evidenced by the 20% of AMR-related deaths occurring in young children.

The economic implications of AMR are staggering. According to WHO data, if left unchecked, AMR could cause a global annual reduction in GDP by up to 3.8% by 2030 it could push up 28 million people into extreme poverty. Low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria stand to suffer the most, where healthcare costs could skyrocket, and millions of people could be pushed into extreme poverty. Dr. Chavan emphasized that Nigeria, with 64,500 AMR-related deaths in 2019, is among the hardest-hit countries, and the figures are expected to rise unless swift action is taken.

“AMR deaths now surpass fatalities from tuberculosis, malaria, and cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria, which highlights the urgency of addressing this crisis,” Dr. Chavan stated. The West African region also reports higher-than-average AMR mortality rates, with 27.3 deaths per 100,000 people annually, significantly surpassing the global average of 16.4.

The far-reaching consequences of AMR go beyond human health. Dr. Chavan pointed out that it affects agricultural productivity and food security, particularly in low-resource settings. As drug-resistant infections become harder to treat in livestock, food supplies are threatened, contributing to global hunger and economic instability.

Addressing AMR, Dr. Chavan emphasized, is crucial to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to health, poverty reduction, and economic growth. “Without coordinated action, AMR could reverse years of progress in development and leave millions vulnerable,” he stressed.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Chavan called for immediate, global collaboration, urging governments, healthcare providers, and communities to act swiftly to combat this silent pandemic. He highlighted the urgent need for research into new antibiotics, stronger healthcare systems, and better public awareness to curb the rising tide of drug-resistant infections.

AMR may be silent, but its impacts are loud and clear: a global crisis demanding immediate attention. The time to act is now.