Health professionals, policymakers, and global health advocates will converge at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), Rainbow Towers, on November 19 and 20, 2025, for a major conference themed “Act Now! Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.”
The gathering forms part of this year’s World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), a global campaign to raise awareness and promote coordinated action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The two-day conference, organized by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with international health agencies and local stakeholders, seeks to spotlight the urgent need to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines.
Experts warn that the rise in drug-resistant infections poses a serious threat to human, animal, and environmental health worldwide.
In a statement ahead of the conference, the Ministry of Health said the event will bring together scientists, veterinarians, pharmacists, and public health practitioners to share strategies and innovations aimed at curbing resistance.
“The fight against antimicrobial resistance requires a united, multisectoral approach. This conference will serve as a platform to strengthen collaboration among all stakeholders,” the ministry said.
World Health Organization (WHO) representatives in Zimbabwe are expected to attend and deliver key presentations on global trends, surveillance data, and best practices for antimicrobial stewardship.
The conference will also feature panel discussions on antibiotic use in agriculture, hospital infection control, and community awareness programmes.
Health experts emphasize that misuse and overuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals have accelerated resistance, rendering common infections harder to treat.
“We must act now to secure the effectiveness of life-saving medicines for future generations. Every prescription, every treatment, and every decision counts in protecting our collective health,” said a health official involved in the organizing committee.
World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week is commemorated annually from November 18 to 24 under the coordination of the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Zimbabwe’s conference is expected to reaffirm the country’s commitment to the global call for responsible use of antimicrobials and sustainable public health interventions.
