Agreement signed to move towards ‘judicious’ use of antibiotics in Jordan

AMMAN — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) have signed a Letter of Agreement to support raising awareness of the “sensible” use of antibiotics in Jordan to minimise the impact of the global threat of Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). 

In a statement on Wednesday, the FAO stressed that “immediate action” will be taken to raise awareness of AMR by developing communication and advocacy products that target different sectors, as described in the National Action Plan of Jordan in collaboration with the World Health Organisation country office.

 “We are honoured to facilitate the collaboration between the FAO and JUST through signing this agreement in the framework of the One Health approach, which will support the faculties of medicine and veterinary medicine at JUST through initiating mutual practices towards AMR in human and animal health,” Alexis Bonte, FAO representative ad interim, was quoted in the statement as saying.

“This is a continuation of collaboration with national specialised entities to support the concerted efforts. The signing of the Letter of Agreement coincides with World Antibiotics Awareness Week 2019,” he said.

Vice President of JUST Sarhan Haddad said: “This agreement will help the community to raise awareness on the use of antibiotics on the farm, para-vet, community and veterinarian levels in the various directorates of agriculture,” according to the statement.

Haddad also stressed the importance of the Regional Centre for Infectious Diseases and AMR as it is the “only support centre for infectious diseases in the livestock sector”.

He stressed that the university, with its scientific and technical cadres, is “supporting the National Action Plan of One Health to support AMR and raising awareness on the unregulated use of antibiotics”.

The agreement seeks to contribute to minimising the threat of AMR as an integral part of food security, the statement concluded.