Malawi will join the rest of the world in commemorating World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) from 18th to 24th November 2026, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has announced.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, says the week is aimed at raising awareness on the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and the need for collective action to prevent it.
In a statement signed by Dr Dan Namarika, Secretary for Health and Sanitation, the Ministry explains that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and develop the ability to resist the medicines used to treat the infections they cause. As a result, medicines such as antibiotics become less effective or ineffective, making common infections increasingly difficult to treat. This can lead to prolonged illnesses, increased healthcare costs, longer hospital stays, and preventable deaths.
This year’s commemoration is being held under the theme, “One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now.” The theme recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant and environmental health, and the need for coordinated action across all sectors to prevent and address AMR.
It is aligned with the updated Global Action Plan on AMR 2026–2036, adopted by the 79th World Health Assembly in May 2026, which calls on countries and stakeholders across sectors to work together under a One Health approach.
The global campaign is led by the Quadripartite, comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
In Malawi, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, through the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM), is coordinating the 2026 WAAW commemoration in collaboration with stakeholders from the human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors and development partners.
The Ministry says everyone has a role to play in preventing antimicrobial resistance.
It has therefore urged members of the public to use antibiotics only when prescribed by a qualified health worker and to take them exactly as directed.
The public is also advised never to share medicines or use leftover medicines or obtain them without a prescription, and to practice good hygiene, wash hands regularly, keep vaccinations up to date and seek medical care promptly when unwell.
Health workers have been asked to prescribe and dispense antimicrobials responsibly, in accordance with treatment guidelines, and to strengthen infection prevention and control practices to prevent and control the spread of infections. Farmers, animal and plant health workers have been urged to use antimicrobials in animals only under guidance of qualified veterinary professionals and observe recommended withdrawal periods. They have also been urged to use pesticides and fungicides responsibly and in accordance with approved guidelines, and to prioritize disease prevention through good hygiene, proper husbandry, and vaccination.
Communities and the environment sector have been urged to dispose of unused and expired medicines safely and responsibly, and to protect water sources and the environment from contamination by pharmaceutical waste and other pollutants. The Ministry says protecting the environment is key to slowing the spread of resistance.
The Government says it remains committed to strengthening the multisectoral response to antimicrobial resistance through effective policies, adequate resource allocation and implementation of Malawi’s National Antimicrobial Resistance Operational Plan 2025–2030.
MALAWI JOINS WORLD IN COMMEMORATING WORLD ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AWARENESS WEEK
By Martha Chikoti
Malawi will join the rest of the world in commemorating World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) from 18th to 24th November 2026, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has announced. The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, says the week is aimed at raising awareness on the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and the need for collective action to prevent it.
In a statement signed by Dr Dan Namarika, Secretary for Health and Sanitation, the Ministry explains that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and develop the ability to resist the medicines used to treat the infections they cause. As a result, medicines such as antibiotics become less effective or ineffective, making common infections increasingly difficult to treat. This can lead to prolonged illnesses, increased healthcare costs, longer hospital stays, and preventable deaths.
This year’s commemoration is being held under the theme, “One Health, one action: Prevent AMR now.” The theme recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant and environmental health, and the need for coordinated action across all sectors to prevent and address AMR. It is aligned with the updated Global Action Plan on AMR 2026–2036, adopted by the 79th World Health Assembly in May 2026, which calls on countries and stakeholders across sectors to work together under a One Health approach.
The global campaign is led by the Quadripartite, comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). In Malawi, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, through the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM), is coordinating the 2026 WAAW commemoration in collaboration with stakeholders from the human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors and development partners.
The Ministry says everyone has a role to play in preventing antimicrobial resistance. It has urged members of the public to use antibiotics only when prescribed by a qualified health worker and to take them exactly as directed. The public is also advised never to share medicines or use leftover medicines or obtain them without a prescription, and to practice good hygiene, wash hands regularly, keep vaccinations up to date and seek medical care promptly when unwell.
Health workers have been urged to prescribe and dispense antimicrobials responsibly, in accordance with treatment guidelines, and to strengthen infection prevention and control practices to prevent and control the spread of infections. Farmers, animal and plant health workers have been urged to use antimicrobials in animals only under guidance of qualified veterinary professionals and observe recommended withdrawal periods. They have also been urged to use pesticides and fungicides responsibly and in accordance with approved guidelines, and to prioritize disease prevention through good hygiene, proper husbandry, and vaccination.
Communities and the environment sector have been urged to dispose of unused and expired medicines safely and responsibly, and to protect water sources and the environment from contamination by pharmaceutical waste and other pollutants. The Ministry says protecting the environment is key to slowing the spread of resistance.
The Government says it remains committed to strengthening the multisectoral response to antimicrobial resistance through effective policies, adequate resource allocation and implementation of Malawi’s National Antimicrobial Resistance Operational Plan 2025–2030. Together, through One Health and one action at a time, Malawi can slow the spread of AMR, protect the health of people, animals, plants and the environment, strengthen food systems and support resilient economies for generations to come.
