The 4th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), held here on November 15-16, has culminated in the approval of the Jeddah Commitments, which mark a significant step forward in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance, a critical threat to public health, food security, and sustainable development. Under the theme “From Statement to Action”, the conference brought together ministers and experts from the health, environment and agriculture sectors from 57 countries, in addition to 450 participants from UN organizations, to address the urgent need for coordinated action against antimicrobial resistance. During the Jeddah Declaration, the Minister of Health, Mr. Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel, indicated that the time has come for implementation, stressing that the Jeddah Declaration will push the global agenda for antimicrobial resistance forward through effective measures, and contribute to stimulating action and implementation for the coming years. He explained that the commitments included in the Jeddah Declaration represent the cornerstone of a program that reflects our decisions in the United Nations and are essential elements that enable member states and international bodies to take effective and serious steps to confront antimicrobial resistance. The Jeddah Declaration adopts what was included in the International Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance issued at the High-Level Meeting of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2024. The commitments of the Jeddah Declaration aim to translate international will into practical and implementable steps, with a focus on strengthening governance, improving monitoring and supervision mechanisms, building capacities, encouraging research and development, and increasing public awareness through educational initiatives. The commitments of the Jeddah Declaration also highlight the importance of international cooperation and the role of the Quadripartite organizations (Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Environment Program, World Health Organization, and World Organization for Animal Health) in providing the necessary support to governments. Al-Jalajel also announced the establishment of a One Health Learning Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance and a Regional Centre for Antibiotic Access and Logistics in Saudi Arabia, which aim to enhance global cooperation and improve access to essential antibiotics and diagnostics. The Jeddah Declaration commitments also included the launch of a Biotechnology Bridge to support research, development and innovation in biotechnological solutions to combat antimicrobial resistance. At the conclusion of the conference, His Excellency Minister Al-Jalajel welcomed Nigeria as host of the 5th Global Ministerial Conference, noting that this ‘coalition of the willing’ must continue to expand to include a larger community of organizations and individuals who are taking a firm stand and working hard against antimicrobial resistance, and work on a stronger mechanism, the Troika system, to drive action and implementation forward through 2025 and 2026 until the 5th Ministerial Meeting.The Troika mechanism represents a tripartite cooperation between the previous, current and future host country, and is an innovation to deepen cooperation and ensure continued momentum, making it a legacy of the meeting in Jeddah, and a key driver of action and implementation until the fifth Ministerial Conference in 2026. The Jeddah meeting concluded with a call on all Member States to commit to their pledges and work towards achieving the goals set out in the UN General Assembly Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance by 2030.
Jeddah commitments at the Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia