AMR PROGRAM
Rationale
Young people are an important and valuable stakeholder in addressing the global health threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) since they are the next generation of public health professionals, the potential future antimicrobial prescribers, users, stewards, and policymakers in their professional practice.
The Africa Tertiary Students’ AMR leaders program seeks to empower students in Africa to be AMR champions. The program seeks to equip the students with the relevant skills, strengthen their capacity and offer them support. These students can then lead student initiatives in their respective countries and empower other students to engage in AMR through the Training of Trainers (ToT) approach. The actions can be diverse including facilitating active engagements in AMR One Health clubs, partnering with other students to engage in research, raising AMR awareness, community engagement activities and developing innovative solutions that can help mitigate AMR among other activities.
AMR Program
Objectives
The targeted young people pursuing tertiary education in Africa have Antimicrobial Resistance knowledge and have been capacitated to be AMR leaders both as students and in their careers thereafter.
A sustainable program for engaging students in Antimicrobial Resistance throughout Africa is established.
Knowledge and skills that are necessary for active and effective contribution in developing, implementing and supporting interventions on Antimicrobial Resistance prevention and control have been inculcated among young people in Africa.
Simply Awesome
Theory of Change
Antimicrobial Resistance is no longer a future pandemic. It is here with us, and its spread is accelerating with each passing day. There are many hospital cases, patients’ stories in media outlets and films showcasing its detrimental effects. Lessons from COVID-19 have educated us on the importance of the early, and strategic preparations. The impact of AMR in Africa is likely to be more severe since the causative factors such as irrational use of antimicrobials, inadequate diagnostic facilities, and poor farming practices, environmental pollution and poor surveillance are amplified. It is therefore important that targeted actions are taken as early as possible to mitigate this threat.
Students are a valuable stakeholder in addressing this global health threat. It is important that they are involved as early as possible. A realistic initial step is empowering students to be AMR leaders by engaging them in an intensive AMR program. The program will focus on exposing them to contributing factors, impact, interventions, and other complex issues around AMR. The students will also be equipped with the relevant leadership skills, and challenged to ideate, design, and implement potential feasible solutions. This will promote experiential learning and also promote translation of the learning to best practices. It is expected that at the end of the program the students will be well motivated to initiate potential AMR interventions in their respective settings. The program should also facilitate the establishment of a highly motivated students’ group which can be relied upon to lead current and future AMR activities within their settings. Having all these students in one platform is expected to help in sustainability of the program and stimulate progressive AMR discussions, promote sharing of best practices and opportunities they could leverage on.
