The fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gained renewed momentum as the AMR Technical Working Group (TWG) and the AMR Coordinating Committee convened for their first-quarter meeting at the weekend in Abuja.
Key stakeholders from human health, animal health, agriculture, and the environment met to assess progress, discuss challenges, and strengthen the national response strategies to AMR.
AMR continues to pose a significant public health threat, undermining the effectiveness of essential medicines and increasing the burden of infectious diseases. The quarterly meeting served as a platform for reviewing ongoing AMR initiatives, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring alignment with national and global action plans.
Dr. Tochi Okwor who represented the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Dr. Jide Idris and serves as Chair of the AMR Coordinating Committee, welcomed the stakeholders at the meeting. She praised the TWG for their efforts in advancing the AMR agenda in Nigeria and for delivering the first National Action Plan (NAP 1.0).
“I congratulate the AMR-TWG for their thorough work in developing the second National Action Plan and for the efforts that went into securing both technical and political endorsement with the support of relevant ministers,” she stated.
Prof. Kabir Junaid, the Co-Chairmanof the Technical Working Group (TWG) welcomed and congratulated all the participants, wishing them a successful meeting. He emphasized that all the pillars would collaborate to develop a strategy and clarify the expectations for each pillar, as well as gather feedback on their previous activities.
The National Action Plan (NAP) 2.0 demonstrated the Nigerian government’s commitment to combating AMR over the next five years, from 2024 to 2028. It aims to build upon and sustain the achievements of the first AMR NAP (NAP 1.0), which was implemented from 2017 to 2023.
The meeting reviewed progress in AMR surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, infection prevention and control (IPC), and awareness campaigns. It focused on strengthening the implementation of National Action Plan 2.0, improving coordination across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors to foster a One Health approach to AMR mitigation, and exploring opportunities for increased funding.
Signed
Sani Datti
Head Corporate Communications
