ReAct 20 years: Arturo Quizhpe on the ecological approach to antibiotic resistance

As ReAct marks 20 years of global action on antimicrobial resistance, we’re celebrating the people behind the movement. Dr Arturo Quizhpe, Director, ReAct Latin America, is a renowned pediatrician and champion of public health, who has spent decades working with indigenous communities, artists, students and civil society groups to advocate the goal of 'Health for All'. He was also one of the founders of ReAct and has been with the organisation for two decades. Here he answers three key questions about his experiences, motivations, and hopes for the future of public health.

How has ReAct’s approach to antibiotic resistance evolved over the years?

–  Over the years, ReAct as a network and in Latin America has undertaken a wide range of actions to empower people with knowledge about antibiotic resistance, through large academic conferences and policy work to the mobilization of communities, health professionals, students and youth. We have also focused on the youngest members of society: school-aged children, for whom we have developed tools to understand the world of even smaller living organisms: microbes.

– Especially in the Latin American region, we have created works of art, written stories accompanied by laughter, and organized games, workshops, readings, and painting activities. We have learned to listen to community narratives and have been deeply moved by the tireless, continuous, and persistent creativity of indigenous peoples. We have been inspired by witnessing, feeling, and making knowledge visible through dialogue with academia, indigenous people, social movements, and artists.

– ReAct’s ecological perspective on antibiotic resistance, which requires a holistic approach to health, has allowed it to establish connections with other civil society groups in the Latin American region that share similar values. Situating antibiotic resistance within an ecosystem context has resonated particularly in the Andean region, where indigenous groups have long promoted a holistic vision known as “Sumak Kawsay” or “Good Living”.

Combining art with the ecological perspective

– By combining this ecological approach with innovative ideas, art, and culture, ReAct has, over the years, successfully placed antibiotic resistance on the agendas of local and national governments, health professionals, social activists, and artists across Latin America.

– Antibiotic resistance can be an opportunity to rediscover the microbial world with fresh eyes, to reconnect with life, and to move beyond the path of disease and death. We must also learn from bacterial communities for our survival as a species. We need to observe their key qualities: flexibility, diversity, adaptability, horizontal communication, sustainability, and resilience.

What have been the greatest challenges in addressing antibiotic resistance? How has ReAct worked to overcome them?

– Antibiotic resistance is a complex planetary health problem that requires a comprehensive and inclusive approach, ensuring that no one is left out of the processes to address it. Over time, major challenges have emerged and continue to persist. These include confusing terminology, a prevailing fragmented vision, and a focus solely on disease and death, which have led to conceptual and methodological limitations and reduced community engagement.

– To address these challenges, we have embraced the One Health strategy with enthusiasm, centered on the ethics of life, reaffirming that our species is interconnected and interdependent with all other forms of life. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the human-microbial interconnections among our bodies, territories, animals, and nature.

How has ReAct helped empower communities and policymakers to take action on antibiotic resistance?

– From the beginning, we have maintained that life is one, yet multiple, and that humans are part of that life, just as bacteria and birds are. Therefore, we must care for life as a whole and protect ecosystem health, since the origins of infectious diseases and bacterial resistance lie in the disruption of this delicate and fascinating balance.

– To achieve this goal, we have taken essential steps in building a sustainable, participatory, and committed network, capable of planning and executing long-term actions that are relevant and effective in addressing the problem and improving people’s lives. This network has established strong ties among academic institutions, experts, and research centers across Latin America, working on infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, microbiology, and pharmacology, as well as social and community organizations.

– An organized community is at the heart of health systems; without their engagement, containing antimicrobial resistance is impossible. For this reason, we always start from an understanding of the most pressing and urgent issues in the community.

Learn more about ReAct.

Visit ReAct Latin America website (in Spanish).

ReAct celebrates 20 years of action on antibiotic resistance!

The story of ReAct began 20 years ago with a small group of passionate global health advocates, several of whom are still part of the network today. Driven by the urgency of antibiotic resistance, ReAct has grown into a global movement with offices across four continents, influencing policy, empowering communities, and shaping governance.

Despite progress, global efforts remain insufficient, and urgent action is needed. ReAct remains committed to driving stronger responses to safeguard effective antibiotics for all.

ReAct’s 20-year journey has transformed AMR governance, strengthened health systems, and mobilized communities worldwide. As we look to the future, we invite partners and funders to join us in scaling impact, driving innovation, and securing sustainable solutions — for a world free from untreatable infections.

The story of ReAct. 

Learn more about ReAct 20 years celebration and releases.