East and Southern African nations converge in Nairobi for critical health engagement
Health officials, experts and policymakers from 16 countries in East and Southern Africa have converged in Nairobi for a crucial week-long regional meeting tackling the urgent issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Themed “Regional Meeting to Review Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines and Implementation of AMR Surveillance,” the meet kicked off today and ends on August 12, 2023.
It aims to devise collaborative strategies and a unified approach to combat the growing threat of AMR and safeguard public health interest.
The opening session of the conference was graced by the Cabinet Secretary of Health, Susan Nakumicha Wafula, who emphasized the urgency of collective efforts to address AMR.
Acknowledging the grave global threat posed by AMR, East and Southern African nations have recognized the pressing nature of the issue within the region.
The Cabinet Secretary advocated for a comprehensive one-health approach, integrating efforts across human health, animal health, and the environment, to prevent the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance while promoting responsible use of antibiotics.
She further stressed the importance of continued collaboration with international partners and the global community to effectively combat this global crisis.
The regional meeting will serve as a vital platform for knowledge exchange, best practices sharing, and capacity building in the interest of public health.
“We are grateful to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) for organizing the workshop, which also highlight its significance in confronting AMR collectively.” Nakhumicha told the gathering in her opening address.
The meeting brought together officials and policy makers from the 16 country members of ECSA, to discuss tackling the urgent issue of Antimicrobial Resistance.
Nakumicha emphasised on the urgency and collective efforts in addressing AMR and advocated for a One-Health Approach in integrating efforts across human health, animal health and the environment to prevent the emergency and spread of AMR while promoting responsible use of antibiotics.
