Zambia, CSE Release Reports of Prioritised NAP on AMR Framework

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a India-based think tank, and the Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinating Committee of Zambia (AMRCC), led by the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), the disease intelligence arm of Zambia’s Ministry of Health, have released four reports that reflect Zambia’s prioritised National Action Plan on AMR framework for integrated AMR surveillance, baseline information for AMR surveillance and a roadmap to phase out non-therapeutic use and critically important antibiotics in food-animals.

These reports were developed by the Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination Committee (AMRCC) and CSE through a consultative process with stakeholders, according to a statement by CSE, recently.

The inaugural session of the jointly organised pan-Africa workshop on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), witnessed the release of the four major reports from Zambia, and of a special story on AMR in India and Africa published in Down To Earth magazine.

Zambia is implementing its National Action Plan (NAP) on AMR that was launched in 2017, and these reports are aimed at guiding the implementation of the NAP-AMR.

Zambia, with this, shows leadership in Africa in containing Antimicrobial Resistance, says CSE.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, the Minister of Health of Zambia. It was attended by other dignitaries, including Mr. N J Gangte, the Indian High Commissioner to Zambia; Dr. Benson Mwenya, the Permanent Secretary-Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Zambia; Dr. Nathan Bakyaita, Country Representative of WHO in Zambia; Dr George Okech, Country Representative of FAO in Zambia; Dr. Victor Mukonka, Director of ZNPHI; and Bernice Mwale, Director General of the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority.

At the workshop, the government of Zambia showcased its progress and commitment towards implementation of its NAP-AMR.

In his opening address, Dr Chilufya said: “Zambia prioritizes health security as an important national agenda and AMR should be considered as an important part of public health security. It will challenge the aspirations of Universal Health Coverage.”

He urged all the countries represented at the workshop to complete their National Action Plans and implement them. Referring to the key causes of AMR being abuse and misuse of antibiotics, the Minister called on everyone to move forward in the spirit of one health and mitigate the wrong use of antibiotics.