WORLD AMR AWARENESS WEEK
World AMR Awareness Week – November 18 to 24
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is commemorated from 18 to 24 November every year. As the speed of the development of resistance to antimicrobials has by far outpaced the development of new and effective antimicrobials, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) can be considered a global crisis with profound implications for societies, economies, and ecosystems. Global collaboration and policymaking are essential to effectively combat it. As one of our signature programs, ProMED has its AMR network, providing coverage of AMR outbreaks/surveillance, case studies, and relevant research topics
Resources
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week is marked annually from the 18th to the 24th of November. The speed of the development of resistance to antimicrobials has by far outpaced the development of new and effective antimicrobials. Prevention of AMR is key in the fight against the development of AMR. The theme for this year’s WAAW is the same as last year’s, “Prevent AMR together,” thus highlighting the need for all stakeholders to work together whether at the individual, community, human health, animal health and environmental health, governments, and NGOs levels. AMR is a threat to humans, animals, and the environment, a One Health approach is crucial to effectively prevent AMR.
Written by ISID Emerging Leader, Vrinda Nampoothiri
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is celebrated from 18 to 24 November every year to raise awareness about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to promote best practices to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. On June 6 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) announced that WAAW will be rebranded as World AMR Awareness Week. The theme for WAAW 2023 is "Preventing antimicrobial resistance together" which calls for cross-sectional collaboration to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials.
To promote education and awareness during World AMR Awareness Week, we present compelling examples that demonstrate how ISID is actively engaged in the global battle against antimicrobial resistance. Together, we can make a difference!
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to escalate as one of the most significant global health challenges of our time, threatening modern medicine, food security, and public health systems worldwide. As the world observes World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week 2025, under the theme “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) reflects on a year defined by scientific leadership, strengthened surveillance, regional expansion, and deepened One Health collaboration. Across 2025, ISID worked tirelessly to transform data into decisions and to support communities, governments, researchers, and clinicians in their efforts to monitor, understand, and combat AMR.
On 24 November 2025, the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) convened a global audience for a World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) webinar focused on “Surveillance Strategies for AMR Control in Low-Resource Settings.” Held under the global theme Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future, the session brought together leading experts, practitioners, and partners to address the realities of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and explore pathways for improving surveillance capacity across low- and middle-income countries.
The International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), represented by Dr Mohamed Sirdar, Global Program Specialist for AMR, participated virtually in the 7th Africa Continental World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025, held from 2-6 December in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The continental observance, guided by the theme “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,” was graced by Tanzania deputy head of state, One Health ministers, Africa CDC, AU-IBAR, Quadripartite organisations (WHO, FAO, WOAH, UNEP), research institutions, youth networks, and regional AMR champions to strengthen the continent’s response to antimicrobial resistance.