Baylor College of Medicine
Children’s Foundation - Uganda
Children’s Foundation - Uganda
Urgent action needed to prevent a public health catastrophe: addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng signs the symbolic 2nd National Action Plan on AMR (NAP-AMR II, 2024–2029) as Musa Sekamatte, the National One Health Platform Coordinator looks on.
The 9th National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Conference was held from 20th – 22nd November 2024 at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Uganda. This three-day event, running under the theme “Educate, Advocate, Act Now,” brought together stakeholders from the human, animal, and environmental health sectors, alongside policymakers, partners, and political leaders. The event was officiated by the Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Uganda’s Minister of Health.
The conference aimed to raise awareness of the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance, a critical global health crisis. The event also demonstrated Uganda’s commitment to a multi-sectoral approach in combating AMR through the achievement of notable milestones, including:
A Looming Global Health Epidemic
AMR arises when bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi develop ability to resist the medications intended for their treatment. This happens through mutation and selection where these microorganisms or germs develop defence mechanisms against antibiotics.
According to the Global Burden of Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) report, AMR caused approximately 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. If left unchecked, this figure could rise to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. In Uganda, the crisis is particularly alarming. In 2019, AMR directly caused 7,100 deaths and contributed to over 30,700 fatalities.
This places Uganda among the countries with the highest AMR-related mortality per capita globally. AMR is now a leading global cause of death, rivalling HIV/AIDS and malaria. Without urgent action, common infections could become untreatable, posing catastrophic risks to public health.
Despite the implementation of Uganda’s One Health approach was formally implemented in Uganda in 2013, challenges in the following areas remain in tackling AMR:
Strategic Plans for AMR Mitigation
Uganda reaffirms its commitment to combating AMR with the launch of the One Health Strategic Plan (2024–2029) and NAP-AMR II. These initiatives emphasize the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng highlighted the importance of coordination among all the relevant stakeholders: “We must strengthen the governance framework for AMR surveillance. This calls for better collaboration among public health officials, veterinary services, environmental experts, and other stakeholders. A clear, well-resourced, and accountable governance structure is essential for tracking AMR trends, guiding policy decisions, and ensuring evidence-based action.”
Advocacy Action against AMR
The Inaugural chairperson for the AMR parliamentary forum, Dr. Charles Ayume underscored the pivotal role of parliament in combatting antimicrobial resistance. He highlighted the need to widen the conversation beyond the community, advocating for the involvement of the media, religious leaders, political leaders, and the community members. In a speech delivered on behalf of Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among, the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Joseph Ruyonga, conveyed her commitment to rallying national and community action against AMR.
“Parliament will also support the newly established Forum on AMR to effectively undertake its mandate. Additionally, parliament will continue to support the line ministries in executing their mandates as outlined in the newly launched National Action Plan on AMR (2024 – 2029) through legislative action, resource appropriation and diligent oversight,” she added.
Dr. Ruyonga then led the parliamentarians in officially launching the Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance, marking a significant step in the collective effort to address this critical public health challenge.
Institutions, including Baylor Foundation Uganda (Dr. Dithan Kiragga, Executive Director on the left side of signature boar (in a khaki sleeveless jacket), Dr. Peter Elyanu, Director of Global Health Security (second on right in blue suit) and Rogers Kisame (sitting next to him) joined the members of parliament to demostrate their commitment to combatting AMR.
In addition to the UN quadripartite (WHO (World Health Organization), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), and WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health), and most recently Uganda received support from the new Fleming Fund country grant II, a UK aid program managed by Mott MacDonald through Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation-Uganda. This new partnership is focusing on capacity-building, stakeholder awareness, promoting responsible antibiotic use, generating quality-assured data to guide evidence-based policies and interventions.
AMR is an all-society One Health Problem requiring all our involvement of ministries, parliament, health workers, animal health professionals, agriculturalists and environmentalists, academicians, media and the civil society organizations. The conference requested urgent action from all the stakeholders to support 10% reduction in mortality in AMR, 20% reduction of inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and 30% reduction of inappropriate use of antibiotics in animals by 2050.
Additionally, the conference underscores the urgent need for a unified, cross-sectoral approach to combat AMR effectively. Failure to act decisively could easily escalate this silent epidemic into a full-blown global catastrophe.
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