Vietnamese youth pioneers solutions for antimicrobial resistance

AMR is present right inside barns, fish ponds, and even households

On November 18 at the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, more than 500 students, lecturers, experts and representatives of international organizations attended the Youth Action Forum Against Antimicrobial Resistance, one of the flagship activities marking the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025. 

The event was organized by the Department of Livestock Production and Veterinary Services under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Vietnam National University of Agriculture, with support from the UK’s Fleming Fund.

This year's theme emphasizes the urgent need to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) - a threat that is no longer distant but already present in daily life, directly affecting human health, animal health, the environment, and the entire food system.

WAAW 2025 runs from November 18 to 24 under the global theme “Act Now: Protect Today, Secure Tomorrow.

At the opening of the forum, Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Livestock Production and Veterinary Services, raised a pointed issue: antibiotics, once considered one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the 20th century, saving millions of lives and ushering in the modern treatment era, are now rapidly losing effectiveness due to misuse, particularly in livestock and aquaculture. She noted that antibiotics remain widely used for prevention and treatment in animals, with misuse and overuse still common. This allows resistant microorganisms to spread through food chains and environmental pathways.

“AMR is no longer confined to laboratories or hospitals; it is present right inside barns, fish ponds, and even households. If we don’t act today, we will pay the price tomorrow,” she stressed.

Dr. Thuy highlighted the agricultural sector’s efforts to tighten antibiotic control in recent years. She noted that Vietnam’s policy framework has been strengthened by the 2018 Livestock Production Law, which bans the use of antibiotics as growth promoters, and Decree 13/2020, which sets a roadmap to completely eliminate preventive antibiotic use in livestock starting January 1, 2026. Regulations on prescription-only use, veterinary drug sales and AMR surveillance have also been updated to form a more coherent legal framework.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, has submitted to the Prime Minister the National Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Control for 2023 - 2030, Vision 2045, and is developing both a Research Framework on Antibiotic Use in Livestock and Aquaculture (2024 - 2030) and a National Awareness and Surveillance Strengthening Program through 2030.

She emphasized the crucial role of youth in combating AMR, noting that future veterinarians will directly decide how antibiotics are used, prescribed and managed at thousands of livestock facilities nationwide.

Vietnam is directly contributing to regional and global AMR control efforts

From an international perspective, Dr. Pawin Padungtod, Senior Technical Coordinator of the FAO ECTAD Program in Vietnam, described AMR as a “silent crisis,” driven by resistant microorganisms spreading quietly, easily and without borders. He emphasized that AMR is a global challenge requiring coordinated action based on the One Health approach. 

Dr. Pawin affirmed that Vietnam has demonstrated strong commitment to addressing AMR through its National Strategy on AMR (2023–2030, Vision 2045), which centers on prevention, surveillance and responsible antimicrobial use. FAO has worked with Vietnam since 2013 and jointly implemented two agricultural AMR action plans since 2017, helping improve surveillance data, diagnostic capacity and antibiotic stewardship.

“What Vietnam is doing not only matters domestically, it contributes directly to regional and global AMR containment efforts,” he said. He added that he places high expectations on students, who will become future veterinarians, scientists and policymakers shaping Vietnam’s response to AMR for decades to come.

This year’s forum featured an open and dynamic format, with interactive activities designed to engage students, including expert dialogues, a poster-design competition and educational games highlighting common antibiotic misuse scenarios. 

Assoc. Prof. Bui Tran Anh Dao, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, said the forum not only provided knowledge but also helped students better understand the deep interconnections between human health, animal health and ecosystems. He noted that when young people are empowered and heard, they can become the driving force behind the most creative and effective solutions.

A representative of the UK Embassy in Vietnam affirmed that the Fleming Fund will continue supporting AMR awareness initiatives, particularly youth-led programs. Meanwhile, FAO Representative in Vietnam Vinod Ahuja emphasized that young people are pioneers of innovation and that empowering them is one of the most important investments for the future of the health and agriculture systems.

Experts agreed that combating antimicrobial resistance cannot rely on a single sector or organization. It requires coordinated action across healthcare, agriculture, the environment and the community. Small steps such as using antibiotics responsibly, practicing good biosecurity in livestock production, following professional guidelines and promoting awareness at the community level, all contribute meaningfully to the broader fight against AMR.