Action for Animal Health is troubled by the announced closure of the Fleming Fund and the subsequent threat of anti-microbial resistance to health of people and animals. AMR has contributed to the deaths of tens of millions of people already and is projected to increase drastically without further action.
The Fund has successfully contributed to strengthening animal health systems to fight AMR in low-resource settings. Action for Animal Health members have successfully worked with the fund to upskill animal health workforces, build laboratory capacity, and combat counterfeit animal medicines.
The Fund is ground-breaking in its commitment to the One Health approach, with human, animal and environmental health sectors coming together to battle this major threat to health and development. It’s closure, with no clear alternative, risks reversing key achievements in animal health as well as public health.
Action for Animal Health chair Laura Skippen said:
“Animal health systems already face the consequences of historic underinvestment. Now, with cuts to development aid across the board, the sector faces a scramble for scarce financial resources to make sure the gains we have made in combatting AMR are not lost. We urge the UK government to maintain its leadership in this area and be clear in how it intends to support animal health system strengthening to combat AMR going forward”