Empowering Youth to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance  

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) kills about 700,000 people worldwide annually, with the majority of those deaths occurring in developing countries. To address this health crisis, Jordan’s Ministry of Health (MOH) is implementing a National Action Plan (NAP) to combat AMR. In Jordan, young people between the ages of 12 and 30 years account for a significant portion, constituting around 36 percent of the population. Given their sizable presence, it becomes imperative to focus on AMR education specifically tailored for adolescents. Misconceptions about antimicrobials and AMR do exist among adolescents and could be addressed with proper health education actions. This is crucial to ensure that future adults are well-informed and make responsible choices, avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics, which would ultimately contribute to reducing the impact of AMR on the community.