AFRO holds capacity building for member states to improve Antimicrobial Resistance surveillance

• By Confidente Reporter

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), in partnership with WHO Namibia and the Health Ministry, held a workshop in Windhoek for 12 selected member states on Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and the use of surveillance system (GLASS) and WHONET tools.

The program aimed to increase Member States’ capacity to construct and improve national AMR surveillance systems and generate, collect, report, and use quality data to influence decisions at the national, regional, and global levels. 

Dr Mary Brantuo, WHO Namibia Officer-in-Charge, highlighted the many actions undertaken by WHO and partners to combat AMR at the start of the regional training on GLASS.

She pointed out that the World Health Assembly issued a Global Action Plan on AMR in 2015 and launched the GLASS to standardise AMR surveillance later that year.  Approximately 80 per cent of WHO African region member states, including Namibia, registered for GLASS.  GLASS has 130 recognised member states worldwide.

Antimicrobial Resistance jeopardises the effective prevention and treatment of many infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi. 

“This is becoming a major global public health concern, ranking in the top ten global public health hazards,” she said.

FOR MORE: GRAB A COPY OF THIS WEEK’S EDITION