Under the MoU, the two sides will coordinate to develop an antimicrobial resistance monitoring system in Vietnam, aiming to build a sustainable surveillance structure through developing a software module and a cooperation framework, thus creating a national report on antibiotic resistance and providing feedback on infection control in the country.

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At the signing ceremony (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

Dr. Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the department, said antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly serious threat to public health, requiring action coordination among countries.

Vietnam was the first country in the Western Pacific region that developed and adopted a national action plan on antimicrobial resistance in 2013, he said, adding the country is establishing an antibiotic resistance surveillance network and developing a national database on antibiotic resistance monitoring with the support from a number of international partners.

According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance has been recognized as one of the leading global threats to human health in the 21st century due to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from one country to another.

Globally in 2016, there were 490,000 cases of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. The drug resistance is starting to complicate the fight against HIV and malaria.

Source: VNA