The Stop Superbugs Network

Studies in Uganda indicate that common bacterial organisms such as E.coli have shown resistance of up to 95% to antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin. Our project seeks to educate youth about the impact of antimicrobial resistance and creating behavioural change approaches to limit overuse and misuse of antibiotics. We have established community youth champions against AMR who educate and influence other youth through platforms such as sports events to stop misuse and overuse of antimicrobials.

Empowering and educating schoolchildren about AMR in context to One health approach. Using of both informal and formal teaching methodologies, whereby creative and innovative Arts and Crafts techniques are used such as songs, skits, drawings containing AMR themes. In regard to formal teaching, classroom trainings are conducted to educate the schoolchildren about the causes, preventive measures including such as WASH and possible impact of AMR. The projects develops school children as AMR agents of change to their families, fellow students, and the community at large.

OAZIS Health antibiotic stewardship program works to influence Rwandan healthcare providers’ clinical practices. This is done through an online CPD-accredited course designed by a multidisciplinary team. The course is promoted by trained healthcare providers (antibiotic stewards) in their healthcare institutions. The course is free, specific to the Rwandan context and allows participants to renew their practice license as it is approved for continuous professional development credits. Antibiotic stewards carry out peer-to-peer education sessions in morning staff meetings and post AMR illustrative chats in consultation rooms and nursing stations. Stewards who mobilize the biggest number of colleagues to do the course is recognized with a certificate and cash prize.

Raising of awareness on antimicrobial resistance and promoting behavioral change through enriching a strong team from the community member, who will work as ambassador for others and emphasize the message learnt from the project facilitator, to optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines in human and animal health.

The gamification project was informed by the need to develop an innovative intervention that would promote Antimicrobial Awareness among young people with little or no awareness about AMR. The project leverages the increasing network coverage in Africa and the high number of youths with access to smartphones. The target group is secondary and tertiary-level students. Phase 1 of the project, recently completed, involved the development of a pilot website game that utilizes short games, music, simple quizzes, and compelling relatable narratives to share basic information on how AMR spreads through common activities and simple interventions to prevent this. Phase 2 will involve validating the game through a scientific study in Uganda. Phase 3 will involve developing a distribution strategy and a marketing campaign to improve its reach, and thereafter improving the game through feedback received from the mass campaign to make it more palatable to the target audience.

AMR Now is an youth-led initiative bringing together multidisciplinary professionals and individuals to tackle antimicrobial resistance threat to the modern medicine from a one health perspective. We are combating development and spread of antimicrobial resistance through AMR education, public awareness, promoting prudent antimicrobial use and appropriate.

The project is dedicated to providing education, awareness and practical tools to help prevent water and sanitation-related infections in rural areas. The objective is to provide a secure supply of clean water and hand washing facilities to 600 households in Kisumu and Siaya counties’ rural, remote areas of Kenya. With reduced infections, the community will reduce the need for use of antimicrobials and thus mitigate occurrence of AMR.

Young people represent more than 60% of the African population. Yet, they are often excluded from meaningful engagement, development, and implementation of AMR programs. This project serves as an opportunity to build on the energetic power of young people to bridge the gap that exists in AMR awareness by developing and disseminating unambiguous, clear, and translated AMR messages both online and onsite, reaching hard-to-reach populations.

Consummate Health and Sanitation designed the First AMR Talk Series in Liberia as a means to train young and would-be AMR Champions and Stewards from high schools and universities to raise awareness within their areas of specialty. Liberia has a youthful and growing population, which is why this talk series is important so as to enhance youth so that they too can contribute to saving lives. As we all know, if AMR is not addressed by 2050, about 10 million people will die. This is why early preparation is needed, and it’s the young people who are capable enough to drive these changes in their communities.

Africa’s youth could be an indispensable force in the fight-against AMR. With over 200 millions inhabitants aged between 15 and 24 old, Africa has the largest youth population in the world. Youth population is a heterogeneous population, with different levels of education, urban and rural environments, and cultural and external influences.  With all their potential, young people are capable of taking concrete, effective action in the fight against AMR, provided they are given the means to do so. It is with this in mind that the AMR Youth Leadership Program was born. For its first cohort, the program received 660 applications from 15 countries, and 200 young people were selected. The program will provide a framework for training and mentoring young people from French-speaking countries during 04 months. Through this program, a large network will be set up to mobilize young people around actions to be implemented on AMR.

In 2020, MUSUHUM(Mouvement Universelle pour la Survie de l’Humanité) launched a crucial initiative to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and promote the One Health approach in West African Francophone countries. The project focuses on three key objectives. Firstly, MUSUHUM aims to broaden One Health participation by engaging professionals from diverse sectors, enhancing commitment in countries developing National Action Plans on AMR. The organization conducts impactful activities such as community training on responsible water and sanitation practices. Collaborating with local influencers amplifies awareness on prudent antibiotic use. MUSUHUM also organizes training and advocacy. Experts in infectious diseases, agriculture, animal health, and the environment equip participants with essential knowledge, fostering collaboration and informed decision-making. This ongoing project underscores MUSUHUM’s dedication to raising AMR awareness and promoting One Health engagement across the region.

In an effort to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at its roots, our ongoing project focuses on registering antimicrobial stewardship societies in universities and private secondary schools, with a specific initiation in Zimbabwean secondary schools. Operating in the Glenview-Mufakose district, just South-West of Harare’s Central Business District, we conduct educational seminars in 28 registered schools to raise AMR awareness. These seminars empower students with knowledge about AMR, its consequences, prevention measures, and how to disseminate this crucial information to peers. The project includes the establishment of antimicrobial societies in each school, ensuring sustainability. Additionally, leadership and career guidance programs are integrated, fostering a deeper understanding of AMR and cultivating future champions in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. By engaging teachers to oversee club activities and providing constitutions, we aim to instill a sense of responsibility and commitment among students for a collective and enduring impact.