REGIONAL MEETING TO REVIEW ANTIMICROBIAL (AMR) STEWARDSHIP GUIDELINES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AMR SURVEILLANCE.

PRESS RELEASE

                                            

REGIONAL MEETING TO REVIEW ANTIMICROBIAL (AMR) STEWARDSHIP GUIDELINES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AMR SURVEILLANCE.

The East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), jointly with Africa CDC,  in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kenya will host a meeting to review the Regional AMR stewardship guidelines and forge a way forward in the implementation of the AMR surveillance systems in Nairobi Kenya.

The meeting will bring together 16 of the Africa Union member state countries from Eastern and Southern Africa representing the following sectors:

1. Healthcare Professionals: Infectious disease specialists, microbiologists, pharmacists, clinical practitioners, and other professionals involved in antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control.
2. Policymakers and Regulators: AMR Focal points Representatives from national health ministries, regulatory bodies, and policymakers responsible for developing and implementing healthcare policies related to AMR and antimicrobial stewardship
3. Researchers and Academia: Scientists, researchers, and academicians working in the field of antimicrobial resistance and stewardship, who can provide insights into the latest scientific advancements and research outcomes
4. International Organizations: Representatives from regional health organizations, international agencies, and non-governmental organizations involved in AMR and antimicrobial stewardship efforts.
5. Industry Representatives: Pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders committed to supporting antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.

The participating countries are:

Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

This 5-day meeting will be held between 7^th  -12^th  August 2023, in at the Ole-Sereni Hotel.

The objectives of the meeting are:

1. Review the Current AMR Stewardship Regional Guidance document including AMS and AMR Surveillance assessment tools:
2. Share Best Practices in implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs and deploying AMR Surveillance Systems
3. Identify Regional Priorities for AMS and AMR Surveillance
4. Strengthen collaboration through establishing a regional AMR technical working group among the participating countries

Background Note on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant global threat to public health, causing prolonged illness, increased mortality rates, and higher healthcare costs. Addressing this issue requires a collaborative approach in the implementation of robust antimicrobial stewardship programs.

In line with the WHO five global objectives of the Global Action Plan on AMR i.e. to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance; to strengthen knowledge through surveillance and research; to reduce the incidence of infection; to optimize the use of antimicrobial agents; and develop the economic case for sustainable investment, countries developed and subsequently implementing National Action Plans aligned with the Global Action Plan.

In Africa, there is a need for region-specific approaches to implement National Antimicrobial Stewardship programs and deploy AMR surveillance systems. To address this ECSA-HC and Africa CDC have developed regional guidance documents such as the Regional guidance for Antimicrobial Stewardship, regional guidelines on the treatment of common infections undertaken Multi-country studies on AMR Surveillance capacities and collaboratively implemented various regional projects supporting the implementation of the National Action Plans on AMR in Member States.

For more details about the meeting please contact the following mmatu@ecsahc.org or ewesangula@ecsahc.org