Combating the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens to reverse the gains made in the post-antibiotic era as treatment failures to once treatable infections are reported around the world. In Church Health Institutions (CHIs) we have also noted pathogens failing to respond to treatment with certain antibiotics. AMR is quickly proving to be a major challenge in the prevention and treatment of many infectious diseases. The backlash of this phenomenon is the increase of health care costs as a result as morbidity and mortality rates. It is estimated that over 750,000 people die each year globally due to AMR. If nothing is done, 10 million people will be dying every year by 2050.

Antibiotics are needed to treat infectious diseases, this is a fact. We know that the highest burden of AMR is in Africa, where most of our members provide healthcare to many communities, often with strapped medical resources. Antibiotics do remain the cornerstone of modern medicines yet, ironically, they also threaten the achievement of a number of sustainable development goals, especially the one on Health.

To expand awareness and action on the threat of AMR, EPN has been working with its members with the support and collaboration of the Action on Antibiotic Resistance (ReAct) and Misereor, in establishing Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Programs and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Programs to promote rational use of antimicrobials and infection prevention and control practices in health facilities respectively.
We are proud to have been able to implement projects in Cameroon with Presbyterians Church in Cameroon Health Services Central Pharmacy (PCC), in DRC with Dépôt central médicopharmaceutique – 8eCEPAC (Église du Christ au Congo) – DCMP and in Ghana with Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and National Catholic Health Service (Catholic Drug Centre).

The targeted facilities have set up AMS and IPC committees in the select hospitals for piloting, with a view to scaling up in their health systems. The process of setting up AMS committees involved the following steps:

The IPC Committee formation followed a similar process as AMS. Activities performed have included:

Hand-washing remains one of the key ways to prevent HAIs and community-acquired infections (CAIs). Implementation of HAIs is often very challenging in health facilities for many reasons such as poor practices, Hospital infrastructure, lack of running water, etc. More still needs to be done and AMS and IPC committee are an important starting point.