ONE HEALTH: Awareness to Action Antimicrobial and Anthelmintic Resistance Conference.

Abstract

Given the serious global public health threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) I welcome the holding of this One Health conference focusing on AMR, and anthelmintic resistance. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine continues to focus on a joined-up approach to animal health under the One Health umbrella. 'One Health' is an approach to designing and implementing programmes, policies, legislation and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes. The challenge of AMR underpins the One Health concept. Ireland’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (iNAP), jointly developed with colleagues from the Department of Health, and the environment sector, recognises the urgent and growing problem of antimicrobial resistance for human health worldwide. It is currently being implemented through successful stakeholder leadership and collaboration. Anthelmintic resistance has been widely reported in parasites of a number of livestock species in Ireland, and is now an increasing problem nationally. Globally, resistance to all currently used antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products has been demonstrated. Resistance to anthelmintics is developing year-on-year, and is now a significant animal health issue. There is a responsibility on the agri-food industry to address its part in the major global challenge posed by AMR and anthelmintic resistance. This conference aims to both inform veterinary practitioners and farmers from the various animal sectors, and to also allow for discussion and debate around key interventions that can be put into practice to combat AMR and anthelmintic resistance. This conference places an emphasis on not simply increasing awareness, but also highlighting actions that can be taken to mitigate against the risk of further development and spread of both AMR and anthelmintic resistance. Tackling AMR and anthelmintic resistance collectively is critically important to achieving sustainable development of the agri-food sector. I wish to thank my colleagues in Teagasc, my department, Animal Health Ireland, University College Dublin and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland for organising this event. I hope you find this conference informative and that you leave with a better understanding of your respective roles and responsibilities to keep antibiotics and anthelmintics working effectively into the future.