World Health Day - 7 April 2011
Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow
Is the world in danger of heading back to the days before antibiotics were developed? That is the question being asked as WHO prepares to mark World Health Day, on 7 April, with a warning about the growing threat from antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Many infectious diseases risk becoming uncontrollable, and this could derail the progress made towards reaching the targets of the health-related Millenium Development Goals set for 2015, WHO said.
"No action today, no cure tomorrow" is the rallying call of World Health Day 2011, when WHO will introduce a six-point policy package designed to combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance.