Letter from the Editor

Every year on 7 April the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates World Health Day. This year’s theme, “Combat Drug Resistance. Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow”, is of particular relevance to the countries of our Region. This April WHO will introduce a six-point policy package to combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Drug resistance is impeding efforts to eliminate or control such infections as tuberculosis and malaria, two grave diseases that threaten much of the population in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. It is also a growing concern in hospital-acquired infections with organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, previously considered fairly innocuous and simple to treat.