The Honorable Marcus Samo, Secretary of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Department of Health & Social Affairs, delivered a statement on the critical issue of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) during a high-level meeting on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

In his remarks, Secretary Samo highlighted the global threat posed by AMR, warning that the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials jeopardizes decades of progress in medicine and public health. He stressed the need for urgent, collective action, drawing attention to the ongoing efforts in FSM, including the country’s integrated national workplan on AMR and its fight against tuberculosis (TB).

Secretary Samo also called for strengthened global regulations to prevent the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in agriculture and animal feed, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where such practices pose a significant risk to public health. He urged the international community to ensure that antimicrobials are kept out of the food supply chain for both humans and animals.

Concluding his statement, Secretary Samo outlined four critical global actions: increased investment in AMR research, enhanced surveillance systems, capacity-building for healthcare infrastructure, and responsible global trade practices. He voiced FSM’s strong support for the Political Declaration on AMR adopted during the meeting.