Preserving the Power of Antibiotics.
The 1st Global Forum on Bacterial Infections: Balancing Treatment Access and Antibiotic Resistance was held in New Delhi from 3-5 October 2011. This two and a half day event focused on two critical issues: 1) the significant burden imposed by bacterial infections - particularly pneumonia and hospital-acquired infections - in the developing world and 2) the challenges of expanding access to antibiotics while being vigilant about the development of drug resistance. Delegates shared research findings and discussed challenges and possible solutions relevant to the developing world context. It was the first gathering of its kind to be held in a developing country.
The Global Forum was convened by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in collaboration with the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (a project of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy - CDDEP), with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The ISC was a strong Forum collaborator, leading a session on Antibiotic Stewardship and sponsoring several participants.
During the Forum, a “New Delhi Call to Action on Preserving the Power of Antibiotics” was signed by:
- (From Kenya): Hon. Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Minister for Medical Services of the Republic of Kenya,
- (From Ghana): Hon. Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, Deputy Minister of Health, Ghana, and
- (From Vietnam): Hung Thai Cao, Vice Director of Medical Services Administration, Ministry of Health, Vietnam
Other countries are encouraged by CDDEP and ISC to join the Call to Action, which is open for signing by Government Ministers. More information is available at http://www.cddep.org/.
Full Call to Action document in pdf form.