KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation is one of the civil society organizations that signs the Call to Action for awareness on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Netherlands. Kitty van Weezenbeek, director of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, announced this during the side event of the ministerial AMR conference in Artis Micropia (Amsterdam). Van Weezenbeek: “Drug resistant TB and other forms of drug resistance cause a humanitarian and economic disaster. It is time to turn the tide. Everyone must contribute to this.”
Micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses) develop resistance under pressure from the use of antimicrobial agents. Incorrect use speeds up that process. This applies to people, animals and the living environment. Increasing mobility of people, animals and food (and therefore of micro-organisms) increases the spread of resistance.
Public awareness and a stronger connection between science, policy and society, nationally and internationally, are necessary to get a better grasp of AMR, emphasize the initiators in the Call to Action for awareness on AMR (click for complete document). From sensible handling of antibiotics and antibiotic residues to food choices, every citizen is responsible: everyone can actively contribute to preventing the development and spread of resistance.
In addition to the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, the call is signed by Artis Micropia, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health & Development, Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Diergeneeskunde, Nederlandse Vereniging voor Medische Microbiologie, Soa Aids Nederland, Stichting Werkgroep Antibioticabeleid, Faculteit Diergeneeskunde Universiteit Utrecht, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research and ZonMw.
At the ministerial conference in Noordwijk, Minister Bruno Bruins (VWS) and Princess Margriet – patroness of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation – also underlined the importance of social involvement in AMR. More information about this conference can be found here.