World AMR Awareness Week

World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign taking place each year from 18 to 24 November. The aim of the campaign is to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policymakers. In Switzerland, WAAW focuses on resistance to antibiotics.

WAAW is organised globally each year by four international agencies:

WHO (World Health Organization)
WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health)
UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the most important public health challenges worldwide. To curb the spread of AMR, appropriate use of antibiotics and preventive measures are thus essential. The aim of WAAW is to raise awareness of antimicrobial Resistance among the general public, health workers and policymakers. Throughout the campaign week, stakeholders can draw attention to antibiotic resistance through a wide variety of activities such as panel discussions, training events, information booths, exhibitions, and distribution of flyers or publications.

Sensitisation week activities and events

WAAW 2025 will feature a range of activities involving numerous stakeholders from all over Switzerland. So we can all look forward to a rich week of insightful panel discussions, illuminating educational events and various further actions all spotlighting the vital issue of antibiotic resistance. You’ll find a selection of these in our activities list below.

Is your activity not listed? Please send your reports to star@bag.admin.ch.

Impressions from previous years

10 March 2025
MedBay-418: raising awareness of antibiotics prescriptions in a playful way
On the occasion of WAAW 2023, the Canton of Geneva collaborated with Atelier Sémaphore to design a serious game for the public: MedBay-418.
More about «MedBay-418: raising awareness of antibiotics prescriptions in a playful way»
27 January 2025
Educational game Mission Antibiotix
Following the success of the first edition of «Mission Antibiotix», the HPCI Vaud and CHUV hygiene, infection prevention and control units presented a new version of the educational game this year, based on the theme of antibiotic allergies and aimed at prescribing doctors in hospital and outpatient settings. Throughout the week of the campaign, Mission Antibiotix was deployed as part of a cantonal championship. At the CHUV, 28 teams comprising more than 155 players from 16 different departments played in what was a very lively competition.
More about «Educational game Mission Antibiotix»
27 January 2025
Symposium Antimicrobial Stewardship in Ambulatory Care Platform (ASAP)
The first ASAP symposium, which was held during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, focused on promoting the appropriate use of antibiotics for outpatient treatment in Switzerland. Experts discussed the importance of quality indicators, antibiotic management strategies and regional variations in prescription practices. The role of the Sentinella system in monitoring resistance to antibiotics, the impact of directives on prescribing behaviour and cantonal action plans ongoing in Geneva and Valais to raise awareness among the public and professional community were the main topics of the event. The emphasis was on the need for better collaboration, user-friendly resources and more qualitative data to combat antimicrobial resistance.
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27 January 2025
REVERSE Goes Blue for AMR | social media campaign
In 2024, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) came under the global spotlight as major milestones were achieved at the G7 summit and the UN General Assembly. To further increase awareness, the EU-financed project REVERSE (pREVention and management tools for rEducing antibiotic Resistance in high prevalence SEttings) participated in the WHO social media colour campaign – Go Blue for AMR.
More about «REVERSE Goes Blue for AMR | social media campaign»
27 January 2025
Flyer for animal owners: «Using antibiotics correctly»
Antibiotics must be used wisely to retain their effectiveness. The Swiss Veterinary Society (SVS) released a flyer for animal owners at the International Antibiotic Aware-ness Week. The SVS also offers information to farmers on treating livestock with antibiotics.
More about «Flyer for animal owners: «Using antibiotics correctly»»
31 October 2024
Presentations on antibiotic resistance at the annual conference of the Swiss Medical Society for Phytotherapy SMGP of 16.11.2023
The Swiss Medical Society for Phytotherapy SMGP had a successful 37th annual conference on the theme of ‹Phytotherapy for humans, animals and the environment – timeless and sustainable›. About 300 participants listened to engaging and inspiring presentations on the major issues of antibiotic resistance, climate change, biodiversity loss, energy issues and environmental pollution, and how they influence human and animal health.
More about «Presentations on antibiotic resistance at the annual conference of the Swiss Medical Society for Phytotherapy SMGP of 16.11.2023»
31 October 2024
Media briefing of 13.11.2023
On 13 November, an event was jointly organised by the federal offices involved in the StAR Strategy – the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO), the Federal Office of Agriculture (FAO) and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) – to brief media representatives about the current resistance situation in Switzerland and developments in antibiotic use. At the briefing, one of the key action areas of the strategy was particularly emphasised, namely: infection prevention and control of resistant pathogens.
More about «Media briefing of 13.11.2023»
31 October 2024
Round Table on Antibiotics: ‘How can the dysfunctional antibiotics market be revived? A question of economic incentives.‘
On 2 December, the Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine (sitem-insel) organised an open day. The Round Table on Antibiotics (RTA) used this opportunity to raise public awareness of the issue of antibiotic resistance and to discuss the challenges and potential solutions.
More about «Round Table on Antibiotics: ‘How can the dysfunctional antibiotics market be revived? A question of economic incentives.‘»
31 October 2024
Round Table on Antibiotics: ‹How can an attractive framework for the antibiotics market be created› (Lausanne)
The Round Table on Antibiotics (RTA) organised a meeting for its members and other guests from its network as part of the 2023 World AMR Awareness Week.
More about «Round Table on Antibiotics: ‹How can an attractive framework for the antibiotics market be created› (Lausanne)»
31 October 2024
Webinar on the OECD Report
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published a new study (Embracing a One Health Framework to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance), which highlights the cost efficiency of measures to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance (AMR). For Switzerland it projects annual costs of up to CHF 750 million by 2050. The study estimates that for every Swiss franc invested in a package of measures to tackle AMR, around CHF 6 in health costs can be saved.
More about «Webinar on the OECD Report»
31 October 2024
Geneva takes us to Planet Simak for WAAW 2023
Given the complexity and importance of the topic of AMR, the Canton of Geneva decided to transfer the topic to the fictional Planet Simak. Through an online game, the Cantonal Medical Officer’s office invited the public to this planet where a medical spaceship had crashed. As the medical robot is out of action, it is up to the players to examine sick people and to decide which treatments to give. The aim – as for doctors on Earth – is to treat patients while avoiding antimicrobial resistance.
More about «Geneva takes us to Planet Simak for WAAW 2023»
31 October 2024
Escape Game: Mission AntibiotiX
To mark the 2023 edition of World AMR Awareness Week, the hygiene and infection prevention and control units from the canton of Vaud and the University Hospital in Lausanne invited doctors from acute care facilities across the canton to play Mission AntibiotiX, a virtual strategy game that is available online.
More about «Escape Game: Mission AntibiotiX»
31 October 2024
Engaged participation of the pharmaSuisse and pharmacies
Pharmacists are on the frontline when it comes to tackling antibiotic resistance.They validate prescriptions according to the rules for good consulting and dispensing practice, give precise instructions on the correct way to take antibiotics, and ask patients to return partially used packs to the pharmacy. They also encourage patients to protect themselves from infections (e.g. by administering seasonal flu vaccinations and the pneumococcal vaccine) and remind people about hygiene measures.
More about «Engaged participation of the pharmaSuisse and pharmacies»
Experts on the subject of antibiotic resistance
For the WAAW 2023, various professionals and members of the public provided testimonials on the urgency of the issue of antibiotic resistance. These testimonials were realised as part of the Antibiotic Resistance Strategy (StAR) campaign. See how professionals from the fields of human and animal health answer questions on the subject of antibiotic resistance.
Valuable contributions from stakeholders
During World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022, a wide variety of stakeholders around the world sought to focus attention on the topics of antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance, raising awareness among the public and at individual institutions. The stakeholders’ activities during WAAW 2022 provided valuable contributions towards curbing antimicrobial resistance and generated numerous media reports. In Switzerland, for example, coverage focused on the risks of growing antibiotic resistance at the global level, the situation in this country, and the decline in the use of antibiotics in both human and veterinary medicine.
Publication of the Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Report 2022
On 10 November, the Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Report 2022 was presented at an online media event for professionals. The report, published every two years, includes comprehensive data on the use of antibacterials and antimicrobials, and on resistance levels observed in Switzerland, not only in human and veterinary medicine but also in the environmental sector. More information on the SARR 2022 can be found on the StAR website.
National Research Programme NRP 72
The National Research Programme on “Antimicrobial Resistance” (NRP 72) was launched in 2015 and concluded in January 2023. Altogether, 33 research projects were supported, with the results contributing to the implementation of the Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance through the One Health approach.
The findings of NRP 72 show how the spread of resistance can be more effectively monitored and controlled, and how antibiotic use can be optimised. In addition, new techniques were developed to improve the treatment of infections with antibiotic-resistant pathogens. During WAAW 2022, the findings and recommendations of NRP 72, summarised in the final report, were presented at an Impulse conference.
More details are available in an interview with the NRP 72 Steering Committee President, Joachim Frey, emeritus professor at the Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology at Bern University’s Vetsuisse Faculty.