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The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted that countries in the African Region are making significant strides in tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). In comparison with previous years, a large number of countries have shown improvement across various key areas.
These include an increase in the number of nations with national action plans (NAPs), functional multisectoral AMR working groups, national AMR awareness campaigns, national surveillance activities for common bacterial pathogens, and the adoption of the WHO’s access, watch, and reserve (AWaRe) classification for antibiotics in essential medicines lists (EMLs).
This report presents the findings from the seventh round of the Tracking AMR Country Self-Assessment Survey (TrACSS), conducted between April and July 2023. In the 2023 survey, 46 out of 47 African Region Member States (97.8 per cent) participated, marking a 7.8 per cent rise in the response rate compared to the 2022 survey, where 42 countries (90 per cent) took part.
According to the 2023 TrACSS results, there has been considerable progress in the development of national action plans for AMR. Specifically, 46 member states (97.8 per cent) reported having a national AMR NAP, with 71.7 per cent of these plans receiving government approval.
Additionally, the number of countries establishing functional multisectoral AMR working groups has risen, with 22 nations reporting operational groups. Over 95 per cent of countries involved in the survey have included both human and animal health sector representatives in these groups. These multisectoral mechanisms, which operate on a One Health approach, facilitate coordinated efforts to implement AMR NAPs effectively. The working groups typically have clearly defined objectives, conduct regular meetings, and receive dedicated funding for their AMR-related initiatives.
Fifteen countries (32.6 per cent) indicated that they have nationwide AMR awareness campaigns targeting key stakeholder groups. These findings underline the need for continued investment in public education efforts. Raising awareness and fostering behavioural change are vital steps in tackling AMR, and communication programmes aimed at diverse sectors such as human health, animal health, the environment, and the public are crucial in these efforts.
The report also notes that 25 countries (54.3 per cent) offer some form of AMR training for healthcare professionals, but only 2.1 per cent have fully incorporated AMR into their training curricula. The WHO stresses the importance of a more widespread effort across the region to systematically integrate AMR into both pre-service and in-service training for healthcare workers.
Infection prevention remains a key strategy for reducing antimicrobial usage, as it helps preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials. Measures such as infection prevention and control (IPC), vaccination, hand hygiene, and improving water, sanitation, and hygiene in healthcare settings can significantly reduce infection rates and the need for antimicrobials. However, the report highlights a concerning decline in the number of countries that have implemented nationwide IPC programmes, with only six nations reporting such programmes, emphasising the need for additional support in this critical area.
When it comes to optimising antimicrobial use, 80.4 per cent (37) of the countries reported having regulations governing the prescription and sale of antimicrobials for human use. However, only 30.4 per cent (14) of nations reported having national monitoring systems to track the sale and use of antimicrobials, revealing a gap in the monitoring of antimicrobial regulations.
AMR remains one of the most pressing global health threats, undermining progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas like health, poverty, food security, and the environment. In May 2015, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted the Global Action Plan (GAP) on AMR, with all WHO Member States committing to developing their own country-specific One Health AMR NAPs in line with the GAP.