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 in Abuja.
The Head Corporate Communications of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Sani Datti disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
Datti informed that 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.
Director-General of the NCDC and Chair of the AMR Coordinating Committee, Dr. Jide Idris welcomed stakeholders to the meeting and praised the TWG for their efforts in advancing the AMR agenda in Nigeria.
Dr. Idris who was represented by Dr. Tochi Okwor also thanked them 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,” he stated.
On his part, the Co-Chairman of the Technical Working Group (TWG), Prof. Kabir Junaid, emphasised 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.
