PUTRAJAYA: Veterinarians have embarked on a five-year plan to address the serious challenges and shortcomings in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Asia-Oceania region.
Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations (Fava) president Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam said that the plan was to empower veterinarians in the region to fulfill their roles on the 'Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP-AMR)'.
"We recognise these challenges and shortcomings when implementing the 'National Action Plans' in each country, concerning AMR.
"Hence, the 'FAVA AMR Strategy 2021-2025' plan is to tap on the potential contributions that veterinarians can make to move these plans forward.
"This cohesive strategy will focus efforts in empowering veterinarians in Asia to support their respective national action plan implementation, and overall, to contribute to the 'One Health' approach that the 'Global Action Plan on AMR' is taking," he told The New Straits Times.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change in ways that render the medications used to cure the infections they cause ineffective.
When the microorganisms become resistant to most antimicrobials they are often referred to as 'superbugs'.
Dr Quaza said Fava's efforts were being collaborated through the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases in Thailand.
Aligned with the overarching global plan, and the FAO's 'Action Plan on AMR 2021-2025' which supports food and agriculture more specifically, the strategic objectives outlined in the FAVA 'AMR Strategy 2021-2025' consist of several measures.
"One of them is aimed at increasing AMR awareness and understanding among veterinarians, veterinary students and veterinary associations;
"We also want to strengthen surveillance and research in the animal health sector; advocate good farming practices in infection prevention and disease control; promote antimicrobial stewardship, which includes appropriate use of antimicrobials in animals; and strengthen governance mechanisms and sustainability of efforts to regulate use of antimicrobials in animals," said Dr Quaza.
He added that to monitor, evaluate, and continuously learn from its implementation, the strategy also outlined an implementation plan to enable a feedback mechanism for continued improvements over time.
"The Fava 'AMR Strategy 2021-2025' serves as a tool to guide, encourage, and support public and private veterinarians in taking proactive roles to contribute to AMR mitigation in their countries, and in the broader region.
"It also outlines the planned actions by Fava to help create a reinforcing environment for veterinary professionals and the national veterinary associations, as a collective regional contribution to the overarching 'Global Action Plan on AMR'," said Dr Quaza, who served as the Veterinary Services Department director-general from 2017 to 2020.
He also previously served as the Malaysian Veterinary Council president, Animal Welfare Board chairman and Feed Board chairman.
Dr Quaza, 61, who is the first Malaysian as the FAVA president for the last two years, is also vying to be elected as the World Veterinary Association president during its electronic balloting on Jan 13-27 in Brussels, Belgium.
He is the only Asian nominated to contest the post against Dr John De Jong of the United States.
He obtained a Master of Science in Tropical Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Veterinary Medicine from the Free University Berlin, Germany in 1994.
Dr Quaza has extensive knowledge, skills and expertise in the field of livestock production and animal health, having worked with stakeholders and the industry for the past 36 years.
During his tenure with the Veterinary Services Department, Dr Quaza was tasked with the control, eradication and prevention of animal and zoonotic diseases; and livestock production in ruminants and to modernise and restructure the non-ruminant industry (especiallly poultry) for sustainability.
"We also had to carry out inspection and certification of farms, abattoirs and veterinary product processing plants; control the import and export of livestock, animal produce, vaccines and biologics; and train farmers, students and officers in animal production and veterinary health.
"Our duties included undertaking research on animal diseases and animal genetic resources, vaccine and test kit production; welfare of animals and with legal provisions, conservation of animal's genetic materials; and regulate animal feed," said Dr Quaza.