THE SILENT PANDEMIC: ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
CAMBRIDGE MASK CO AT THE UNITED NATIONS
With the COVID-19 pandemic starting to ebb, many are asking what will be the next threat. Experts at the UK’s Department for Health and WHO point to ‘the silent pandemic’ of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which could cost the world 100 trillion dollars and cause 10 million annual deaths by 2050. To raise awareness of the issue, Cambridge Mask Co partnered with the UK Mission to Geneva and sponsored the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) launch event, with support from the UN and WHO Directors General as well as the UK and Swedish ambassadors to Geneva.
The UK Mission partnered with the Swedish Mission in Geneva to unveil the art exhibition, entitled ‘The Silent Pandemic: No Time To Wait’, to mark the start of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2021 at the UN in Geneva, with a special range of limited edition Cambridge Masks given out to attendees. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest public health threats facing the world. The emergence of drug resistance means that antimicrobials (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, antimalarials, antiparasitics) are becoming ineffective against the infections and illnesses they aim to treat, including for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis (TB), HIV and maternal and newborn infections.
The exhibition was unveiled by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva.
Dr Tedros said “I am noticing one thing. Masks are from Cambridge and a vaccine from Oxford. Oxford and Cambridge are now fighting to try and outsmart COVID 19”.
Cambridge Mask Co supported the event to underline the importance of masks in helping to prevent infections as well as promote sustainability with non-disposable masks.
Cambridge Mask Co have launched a limited edition WAAW mask, available at cambridgemask.com for a limited period. Any profits from the sale of these masks will be donated to AMR research charities.
Cambridge Mask Co is working in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on a non-commercial basis, all related costs of the event such as attendance and masks were covered by Cambridge Mask Co.
