Vientiane: Over 500 participants gathered at the Patuxay Monument in Vientiane on November 14 to take part in a public walk aimed at raising awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a pressing global health crisis. Organized by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the event underscored the urgent need for a coordinated response to address AMR.
According to Lao News Agency, the walk was led by Vice Minister of Health Dr. Phaivanh Keopaseuth and brought together representatives from key ministries, development partners, and stakeholders. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to tackling AMR, a phenomenon that poses a grave threat to modern medicine and global health systems.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the drugs designed to treat them, making infections increasingly difficult-or even impossible-to cure. Globally, AMR is estimated to cause 700,000 deaths annually,
with projections suggesting this figure could rise to 10 million per year by 2050 if no action is taken.
“AMR is one of the top global public health threats, and the Lao PDR is no exception,” said Dr. Phaivanh Keopaseuth. “It undermines decades of progress in medicine, making infections harder to treat and other medical procedures riskier.”