Applying a disability inclusion lens to antimicrobial resistance
The World Health Organization identifies antimicrobial resistance as one of the top 10 global health threats, contributing to five million deaths every year. The growing global focus on combating antimicrobial resistance will feature at the 77th World Health Assembly this week and will be the sole focus later this year of a second High-Level Meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024. Here in the UK, the Government launched (in May) a new five-year plan to combat antimicrobial resistance. The UK is one of many national governments worldwide with national action plans on antimicrobial resistance.
Routinely missing from efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance is a focus on persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are more vulnerable to infection and resistance. Inaccessible health information (including prescriptions) reduces the likelihood of persons with disabilities appropriately using and administering antimicrobials, a persistent fear of negative interactions with workers in health facilities causes persons with disabilities to delay or altogether avoid seeking healthcare services, and the limited availability of accessible clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities increases persons with disabilities’ risk of exposure to antimicrobial resistance. Without applying a disability lens to combating antimicrobial resistance, governments and health organisations have only a partial picture of the drivers and impact of antimicrobial resistance.
Work undertaken to enhance the focus on equity in regard to antimicrobial resistance (by the WHO and the Fleming Fund, for example) primarily applies a gender focus, overlooking entirely disability.
Moving forward, Impel will be working with our partners to add a disability lens to combating antimicrobial resistance. Together with other organisations, we will work to strengthen understanding of how disability impacts both the burden and the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Better understanding persons with disabilities’ exposure and vulnerability to antimicrobial resistance will both inform broader efforts regarding health equity for persons with disabilities and assist the reach and effectiveness of targeted strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance.