The Ducit Blue Foundation (DBF) has launched the African AMR Voices Network to strengthen the participation of people and communities affected by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in advocacy and action across Africa.
The foundation did unveiling in partnership with the AMR Narrative, an NGO.
Estelle Mbadiwe, Founding Partner at Ducit Blue Solutions, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Mbadiwe said that the initiative sought to bring together patients and survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, health experts, patient organizations, advocates, and other stakeholders working to address AMR across the continent.
“The partnership combines AMR Narrative’s expertise in patient and public advocacy and global community engagement with DBF’s work in patient safety, quality improvement, implementation research and AMR,” she said.
According to her, the network is built on the recognition that AMR affects individuals, families, communities and health systems, requiring the involvement of those experiencing its consequences alongside those working to prevent and address them.
She said the initiative would strengthen connections between lived experiences, community perspectives and professional expertise, while creating greater opportunities for affected people to participate meaningfully in AMR advocacy.
“A particular focus will be placed on ensuring that perspectives from under-represented communities and regions are included in discussions and advocacy around AMR,” she said.
She said the organisations also aimed to develop an approach that could expand across different African countries and languages while building a stronger and more connected AMR community across the continent.
She said that the African AMR Voices Network would seek to strengthen the role of lived experience and community engagement in wider AMR advocacy, beyond awareness creation.
“The partners will also explore opportunities to engage national health agencies, regional bodies and other stakeholders in efforts to promote stronger recognition of community storytelling and survivor engagement in AMR advocacy.
“The collaboration will support advocacy capacity building, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships to enable individuals and organisations within the AMR community to strengthen their ability to advocate for meaningful change,” she said.
She said tackling AMR required more than one perspective, stressing the importance of bringing together lived experiences and collective voices to strengthen awareness, advocacy, and action against the growing public health challenge in Africa.
NAN reports that AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond effectively to medicines, making infections more difficult to treat and increasing the risk of severe illness and death.
The African AMR Voices Network is, therefore, expected to provide a platform for a broader range of voices to contribute to efforts aimed at addressing the consequences of antimicrobial resistance across the continent.
