Awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Community: The Role of the WHO in Addressing Consumer Information Needs

The global rise of drug-resistant infections is an urgent concern but public engagement on the issue tends to be sporadic. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is contributing to increased morbidity and mortality from infections globally. Effective mitigation of AMR has been recognized by governments and non-governmental bodies internationally as a priority, though mitigation efforts have not received widespread attention. The World Health Organization (WHO) has played a key role in drawing governments’ attention to the phenomenon and in coordinating inter-governmental mitigation efforts. It has also played a key role in raising community awareness of AMR.