By Abujah Racheal
More than 100 countries are expected to participate in the 5th High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), as global health leaders intensify calls for stronger financing, multisectoral collaboration, and urgent coordinated action against drug-resistant infections.
The Global Media Briefing was convened on Monday via webinar ahead of the 5th High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which is scheduled to be held in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that organisers confirmed that this will be the first time in history that the high-level ministerial meeting on AMR is being hosted in Nigeria as well as on the African continent, marking a significant milestone in global health diplomacy and Africa’s leadership role in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
The briefing brought together representatives of the Quadripartite Alliance on AMR, Nigerian government officials, and international partners to provide updates on preparations, participation, and expected outcomes of the ministerial meeting.
The Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR—comprising the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), said the Abuja meeting will serve as a turning point in efforts to translate global commitments into national and multisectoral action.
Speaking at the briefing, Dr Jean Pierre Nyemazi, Director of the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat (QJS) on AMR, said the conference is designed to move antimicrobial resistance commitments from global political declarations into concrete implementation at the country level.
Nyemazi warned that AMR remains one of the most serious global health threats, noting that drug-resistant infections are increasingly undermining modern medicine, including routine treatments, surgeries, and infection management.
He said the Abuja conference builds on key global milestones, including the 2024 United Nations High-Level Meeting on AMR, the fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference held in Saudi Arabia, and recent One Health engagements.
He explained that the meeting will focus on accelerating the implementation of national action plans, strengthening governance systems, and mobilising sustainable financing under a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health.
He also emphasised that the media plays a critical role in raising awareness, shaping public understanding, and ensuring accountability in the global response to AMR.
Also speaking, Dr Ayoade Alakija, Ministerial Global Envoy on AMR, Government of Nigeria, described financing and One Health coordination as central to the success of the global AMR response.
Alakija said the conference is not designed for lengthy speeches but for practical solutions and measurable outcomes across sectors.
She stressed that AMR extends beyond human health, affecting agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, food systems, and the environment, and therefore requires a fully integrated One Health response.
She noted that even discussions at the briefing reflected this cross-sector reality, citing antimicrobial resistance concerns in animals, livestock systems, and zoonotic risks, which reinforce the need for coordinated surveillance and response systems.
According to her, veterinary experts are actively engaged in global AMR governance structures, including advisory mechanisms supporting the ministerial process.
She further emphasised that financing would be a core agenda item at the Abuja meeting, with dedicated sessions on sustainable financing and domestic resource mobilisation.
She referenced the Abuja Declaration on Health Financing, where African Union member states committed to allocating at least 15 per cent of national budgets to health, describing it as a critical benchmark for renewed political accountability.
She said the current moment presents an opportunity for countries to strengthen domestic investment in health security and reduce overdependence on external funding.
“The conference will be held from 28 to 30 June 2026 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
“The first day will focus on non-state actors, including civil society organisations and development partners under the Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform (MSPP).
“The second day will host ministerial plenary sessions, while the final day will feature country statements, negotiation and adoption of an outcome document, a handover ceremony, and civil society panels.
“The MSPP will also hold its general assembly on the final day, bringing together stakeholders working across AMR response systems,” She said.
She said invitations have been extended to ministers of health, agriculture, environment, livestock, and finance from over 100 countries, with confirmations still ongoing.
“Several high-level participants are expected following recent global engagements, including the One Health Conference in Lyon, France, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron,” she said.
She said that the conference is being convened under the patronage of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and is expected to strengthen global coordination, accelerate implementation of national action plans, and reinforce accountability mechanisms in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance.
NAN reports that AMR remains one of the most urgent global health threats, with experts warning that rising resistance could render common infections harder to treat and significantly undermine advances in modern medicine if urgent action is not sustained.
