On July 15th and 16th, 2021 a conference on “The Importance of Antimicrobial Resistance” was organized, initiated by the Food Safety Inspectorate of the Republic of Armenia with the support of the “Livestock Development in Armenia – South-North” program, implemented by the Strategic Development Agency NGO and co-funded by the Austrian Development Agency’s Austrian development cooperation program unit and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
The human body can become resistant to antimicrobials both by taking the medicine and as a result of its residues in food. Antimicrobial resistance is a global issue not only in the field of medicine but also in the field of veterinary medicine and food safety. Experts regularly raise the issue of antibacterial resistance, but the problem remains.
The main goal of the conference was to analyze the level of control of the circulation of antibiotics in the field of veterinary medicine, to suggest control mechanisms, as well as to present the results of the research conducted by scientific and laboratory centers in the fields of veterinary medicine, healthcare, and food industry, as well as to share the international experience and scheduled programs.
The event was attended by the veterinarians and the representatives of the Food Safety Inspectorate of the Republic of Armenia, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Strategic Development Agency, the Center for Risk Assessment and Analysis, National Agrarian University of Armenia, the Bee Disease Laboratory, FAO and the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia.
At the beginning of the event, the participants were greeted by the head of the RA Food Safety Inspection Body, Mr. G. Avetisyan and the chairman of the Strategic Development Agency NGO Mr. M. Ayvazyan. They stressed the role and work of all governmental and non-governmental agencies/stakeholders in the fight against antimicrobial stability within the framework of the “One Health” idea.
The specialists presented the gaps in veterinary medicine use, as well as the mechanisms for controlling the circulation of antibiotics in the field of healthcare, the results of research conducted by scientific and laboratory centers, as well as the international experience, programs, and environmental issues.
