Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global public health threat which affects patients, communities and threatens to undermine the modern health system. Antimicrobial resistance can also have serious negative impacts on animal health, welfare and production.
The New Zealand Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan was jointly developed by the Ministry of Health, Ministry for Primary Industries and representatives from across the human health, animal health and agriculture sectors. The document draws upon the findings from Antimicrobial Resistance - New Zealand's current situation and identified areas for action, released earlier this year.
The Action Plan’s vision is that New Zealand manages antimicrobials as a valuable shared resource and maintains their efficacy so they can be used to treat infections in humans, as well as to manage diseases in animals and plants.
It has five key objectives:
- awareness and understanding
- surveillance and research
- infection prevention and control
- antimicrobial stewardship
- governance, collaboration and investment.
Based on a ‘One Health’ approach, the plan enables coordinated national action to minimise the impacts of antimicrobial resistance on New Zealand and beyond.