Speech by H.E. Valdrack L. Jaentschke Whitaker,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Nicaragua
on behalf of the Member States of the Central American Integration System (SICA)
High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance
High-level Week, 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
September 26th 2024
United Nations, New York
SICA SPEECH AT HIGH-LEVEL MEETING
ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
General Debate
Thursday, September 26th, 2024
United Nations, New York
Mr. President,
Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Honourable Members of Delegations,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. I have the honour to address you on behalf of the Member States of the Central American Integration System (SICA): Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, the Dominican Republic and my country, Nicaragua.
2. We welcome the holding of this meeting, which allows us to address the achievements and challenges posed by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) following the commitments made in 2016.
3. The member countries of the SICA have made efforts to adopt actions to address antimicrobial resistance in our region, guaranteeing universal coverage to quality health for our Peoples.
4. Also, in December 2020, the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (COMISCA) held the 4th Regional Intersectoral Forum for Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic on the Healthy Environment, Climate Change and Health: Antimicrobial Resistance from the One Health approach.
5. At that forum, our region signed a resolution that sets out a series of concrete regional actions for the access and responsible use of antibiotics so as to contain antimicrobial Resistance in Central America and the Dominican Republic.
6. In this resolution, the creation of an integrated surveillance information system for Antimicrobial Resistance in the region was instructed, incorporated into the Health Plan for Central America and the Dominican Republic (PASCARD) 2021-2025.
Mr. President,
7. The SICA Member States reiterate the importance of International Cooperation, as well as the research and development of new technologies in the field of Antimicrobial Resistance, by fulfilling international obligations and commitments in the field of development cooperation, in line with the WHO Global Action Plan on AMR.
8. We also highlight the need to urgently support the research and development of antimicrobials, especially new antibiotics, vaccines, diagnostic tools and innovation, including in traditional and herbal medicine.
9. Finally, the SICA Member States reiterate our commitment to continue taking concrete actions to strengthen our health systems, joining the global efforts to address Antimicrobial Resistance.
Thank you very much.