[A summarized unofficial version of the press release]

KDCA Commissioner Calls for Global Action to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance at UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting

- Commissioner Dr. Youngmee Jee highlighted the implementation of national action plans on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and stressed the importance of global cooperation in her address at the UNGA High-Level Meeting on AMR.

- Dr. Jee visited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration between KDCA and the CDC.

Osong, 11th October 2024 – On September 26, Dr. Youngmee Jee, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), attended the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) during the 79^th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York City, USA, as the Head of Delegation of the Republic of Korea. In her speech, she called for urgent global action and cooperation to combat AMR.

Earlier, on September 24, Dr. Jee visited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where both agencies discussed critical issues such as Mpox and respiratory infectious diseases. The following day, September 25, KDCA and the U.S. CDC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further strengthen cooperation on a wide range of public health challenges.

During the UNGA High-Level Meeting on AMR, on September 26, Dr. Jee expressed strong support for the Political Declaration on AMR and emphasized the need for a global response based on cross-sectoral collaboration and the One Health approach.

She also highlighted Korea’s efforts, both at home and abroad, to combat AMR. She outlined Korea’s plan to establish a support system for healthcare facilities to ensure proper antibiotic stewardship. She also underscored KDCA’s role as a WHO Collaborating Center for AMR Reference and One Health Research, actively contributing to capacity-building efforts in partner countries, particularly for antibiotic-resistant bacteria surveillance and laboratory development, through Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects.

Ahead of her attendance at the UNGA, Dr. Jee visited the CDC in the U.S. on September 24. She toured the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and held a bilateral meeting with high-ranking officials, including Dr. Kayla Laserson, the Director of the Global Health Center (GHC) at the CDC.

Following the EOC tour, the two sides discussed the current status and response to Mpox, which was designated as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August. They also exchanged views on other pressing disease control issues, including global health security and Joint External Evaluation (JEE), immunization programs and policies, public health workforce development, and disease surveillance for travelers.

On September 25, Dr. Jee met with Dr. Mandy Cohen, Director of the CDC, in New York and signed a MoU between the two agencies. This MoU renews the existing agreement signed in October 2019 between the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC)* and the U.S. CDC back in October 2019, expanding the areas of cooperation from 10 in 2019 to 14 in 2024. The new MoU outlines specific collaborative actions, including the designation of focal points for both agencies.

* The KCDC was officially upgraded to an independent administrative body, renamed the KDCA in 2020. 

In addition to these meetings, Dr. Jee actively engaged in global health diplomacy during her stay in the U.S. On September 23, she held a seminar with Korean scientists working at the CDC and in American academic institutions to introduce the KDCA and discuss their ongoing scientific studies.

On September 25, Dr. Jee was invited to a side event hosted by Unitaid, where she participated as the first speaker in a ministerial panel discussing strategies to protect the health of women and children from AMR. In her remarks, she emphasized Korea’s efforts to enhance healthcare accessibility for women and children.

She stated, “Specific cross-sector partnerships and tangible actions are critical to addressing AMR issues,” adding, “Korea is committed to expanding its role in global efforts to tackle AMR, fulfilling its responsibilities as a member of the international community.”

* For detailed information, please refer to the press release written in the Korean language in the file attached below.