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Kathleen T. Young
Executive Director, APUA
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APUA's Commitment: Strengthening Global ID Resources
Message from our Executive Director
As we move into our next 25 years, APUA, along with its affiliated chapters and other public health collaborators, stands ready to face these challenges. Based on current demographic trends, we will be operating in a future full of new opportunities for diseases to spread. On the bright side, this era will also present new opportunities for advances in the technology and science required to meet these challenges. Larger investment by governments worldwide and more coordinated action by all stakeholders are key to keeping ahead of these threats.
Since its founding in 1981, APUA’s mission has remained remarkably relevant, yet adaptable to emerging public health threats. The goal of conserving the effectiveness of lifesaving medicines has become even more timely as global aid projects have accelerated distribution of medicines into the least developed nations. These countries bear the greatest burden of infectious diseases; however they lack adequate financial resources, infrastructure and health personnel to ensure medicines are used effectively. To address this crisis, APUA has accelerated its chapter development program in low resource countries, building grassroots organizations to conduct the education, research and advocacy programs needed to contain antimicrobial resistance. Working alongside of WHO and other partners, APUA’s chapter network in 56 countries is a global force working to ensure that antimicrobials are accessible and used wisely. While we continue to address the major scourges of HIV, TB and malaria, we advocate for increased attention to acute bacterial infections—the leading cause of mortality and death for children under 5 in developing countries.
APUA will continue to play a leadership role in addressing politically sensitive issues, just as our FAAIR project convened reluctant stakeholders to develop a national consensus concerning misuse of antibiotics in agriculture. Of particular concern now are the need for equal access to essential medicines and the need to foster innovation in drug and diagnostics development. To begin this debate, APUA is convening the first World Congress on December 11 and 12 to consider legislative incentives and public-private initiatives to spur industry in the development of new antimicrobials, diagnostics and vaccines. Building on its ROAR and GAARD projects, APUA will continue to advocate for increased resources for basic and applied scientific research that helps inform interventions. Using a multidisciplinary approach, we will continue to promote needed research which informs clinical interventions.
Many thanks to our founder, Dr. Stuart Levy for his foresight and leadership, and to APUA staff members for their dedication. Together, with our esteemed global, national and local partners, we will continue to make the case for increased and more coordinated use of our limited resources to hasten control of infectious diseases over the next 25 years.
Kathleen T. Young, Executive Director |
