Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel and President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Mohammed bin Sulayem have urged all countries to draw up more efficient national action plans to combat antimicrobial resistance.
The primary focus, they say, should be on increased community awareness about the issue and ensuring sustainable access to essential medicines.
The call was issued on the occasion of a tour at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the site of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and subsequent to the Fourth High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which the Kingdom is hosting in Jeddah on November 15 and 16.
Over 57 ministers and deputy ministers of health and agriculture take part in the conference, which seeks to come up with measures to reduce fatalities from antibiotic-resistant infections, which may reach 10 million annually by 2050 without prompt intervention.
Al-Jalajel emphasized the importance of raising awareness about antimicrobial resistance as a critical component of the action plan of each state, also advising rational use of antibiotics by humans and in food chains to mitigate this "silent" and growing epidemic.
He said that FIA president's support "bolsters our endeavours by encouraging motorsport clubs to collaborate with their governments and public and private institutions in their respective countries to implement our recommendations", which underscores the significance of the "One Health" approach in addressing this global challenge.
Bin Sulayem urged 150 motorsport and motorcycle clubs worldwide to support the UN International Declaration and the Jeddah meeting's outcomes by urging rational use of medicines and expanded access to the latest treatments and diagnostics.
World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed gratitude to the Saudi Ministry of Health and FIA president for spearheading this global initiative.
"I am grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and FIA for their dedication to addressing the dual challenge of ensuring access to antimicrobials and promoting their responsible use," he said.
