National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (2020-2024).

This National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance is a nationwide multi-sectoral document based on the One Health approach, which means that human health, animal health as well as environment sectors have equal responsibilities and strategic actions. Aligned with the National Policy Agenda 2017-2022 which accords priority to the health of citizens, and the National Health Strategy 2017-2022, its main purpose is to protect and improve the health of Palestinian people through control of AMR. To achieve this main goal, the NAP has identified the following 5 strategic objectives (i) improve awareness to reduce AMR and promote rational use of antibiotics; (ii) strengthen national one-health surveillance efforts for antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use; (iii) implement evidence-based infection control practices to prevent the spread of resistant pathogens; (iv) optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines in human and animal health sectors; and (v) encourage and promote operational research on AMR.
To make agriculture and fisheries more productive and sustainable, this NAP envisages to (i) enhance awareness on biosecurity and vaccination of animals; (ii) develop campaigns to improve brucellosis vaccine in animals and conduct awareness activities amongst animal owners and professionals; (iii) initiate antibiotic residues surveillance in animal farms (domestic, meat production, poultry); (iv) improve biosecurity measures in veterinary settings and animal husbandry; (v) enhance national capacities of health care and animal care providers in rational use of antimicrobial drugs; (vi) establish a national database of all farming animals, poultry sector and fish producing facilities.
To increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the main interventions suggested are (i) develop national awareness-raising, communication, and education program with a focus on health promotion, infection control, vaccination, and rational use of antibiotics in all sectors; (ii) establish and strengthen integrated surveillance system for AMR and AMU with One Health approach; (iii) initiate environmentally safe treatment and disposal system for hazardous waste; (iv) promote infection control practices across all tiers of the healthcare system.
As for Governance, the implementation of this NAP includes (i) the constitution of a national antimicrobial resistance intersectoral steering committee with all stakeholders from the public and private sectors represented, which is chaired by the Minister of Health, acting as coordinating mechanism; (ii) allocation of adequate financial resources; (iii) establishment, if possible, of a Unit and focal point in the MoH and establishment of a corresponding Unit and focal point in Ministry of Agriculture.