A national action plan can serve as a core strategy to coordinate and align activities of different stakeholders in different sectors. It can also provide a legal and political framework for action.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
Costing a country’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) appears to be a daunting and challenging task. The complexities of the National Action Plans, its multidisciplinary nature, intergovernmental involvement, along with the numerous activities involved in implementation appear to require an entire health system budgeting exercise which can be overwhelming.
As Dr. Kim Faure has solid experience on costing National Action Plans on AMR. In an interview with React Africa, Dr. Faure outlined fundamental steps around costing for National Action Plans on AMR. Once the purpose of the costing exercise is understood along with the activities that are specific for antimicrobial resistance, the costing exercise can be simplified and achieved. Dr. Faure highlight's fundamental practical steps that will help the process of costing.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
ReAct Asia Pacific in association with World Animal Protection, India, and World Health Organization Country Office for India, co-organized the first edition of an annual “Colloquium on State Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance 2022” in New Delhi 14 March.
The size of the country and the federal structure of governance in India makes sub-national action plans necessary for effective antimicrobial resistance containment efforts. However, COVID-19 has been a setback in the formulation and implementation of sub-national action plans on antimicrobial resistance. The meeting aimed to facilitate inter-state discussions on strategies to revitalize State Action Plans on AMR and had participation from 16 regions (States and Union Territories) in India.
ReAct Africa’s activities are anchored within the countries’ AMR National Action Plans (NAPs) and the mandates of the OIE, WHO, FAO, Africa CDC frameworks for addressing AMR which countries have endorsed.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
A survey on the currently developed National Action Plans on AMR highlighted suboptimal financing plans and lack of resources.On October 13, the World Health Organization therefore launched a new tool to help guide the development and implementation of National Action Plans on AMR.
This article looks at three areas of added value of this new tool. The new WHO tool can also be accessed through the ReAct toolbox - a repository intended to support governments to develop and implement National Action Plans on AMR.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
The Lancet article titled "An analysis of existing national action plans for antimicrobial resistance - gaps and opportunities in strategies optimising antibiotic use in human populations" examines the existing National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance and identifies gaps and opportunities for improving strategies to optimize antibiotic use in human populations. Dr. Mirfin Mpundu, ReAct Africa, contributed to the article as one of the co-authors.
A One Health approach is advanced to minimize spread of antibiotic resistance that is responsive to low- and middle-income countries needs, and with a strong focus on One Health AMR National Action Plans implementation, health systems strengthening and community engagement.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) are a crucial component to address antibiotic resistance at the country level. Since 2010, ReAct has supported countries in the development of National Action Plans.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
10-12 November The Latin American Summit "Empowered Communities against Antimicrobial Resistance in the context of COVID-19", will be organized by ReAct Latin America together with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Florida International University Health Consortium. 3 November a pre-summit day is arranged. During the 4-day summit the main theme is the role of the community when implementing and sustaining National Action Plans on AMR. The discussions will be held under the One Health umbrella - the relationship between human health, animal health and health of ecosystems. The summit will be translated into English (live).
Countries develop and implement National Action Plans with respect to sustainable access to effective antibiotics, that are inclusive of civil society, local community views and based on situational analyses with ReAct’s support.
Many countries are currently working to develop, revise and implement National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance. The process can be daunting but ReAct has resources that can help.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
The state of Kerala became the first Indian state to launch an Action Plan for containing Antimicrobial Resistance. The Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Strategic Action Plan (KARSAP) was released at a ceremony held at the city of Thiruvananthapuram on 25th October 2018. The action plan is aimed at giving a strategic direction to the various activities undertaken to tackle antimicrobial resistance in the state. The action plan is truly "One-Health" in its approach and was developed through a collaborative exercise involving human, non-human and environment sectors.
Toolbox – Policy – Inspirational examples
In 2015, the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly adopted the Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance. As part of the plan, all Member States have committed to develop and implement National Action Plans on antimicrobial resistance that should be aligned with the objectives of the Global Action Plan. Since then, there has been a growing demand for support from Member States.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
On Monday the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA) will start in Geneva. Country delegates will have a long list of agenda items lined up for discussion to get through. While much attention will be given to the election of a new Director General to replace Dr. Margaret Chan, the discussion on antimicrobial resistance also features on the agenda. This year, the focus will be on the three requests made in the UN General Assembly Political Declaration of the World Health Organization (WHO): country progress in developing their National Action Plans (NAPs) on antimicrobial resistance, progress on finalizing the Global Development and Stewardship Framework and finally the setup of the ad hoc UN Interagency Coordination Group.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
Mid September ReAct Africa arranges The 2017 Annual ReAct Conference in Kenya. The week is designed to provide round table discussions on the theme, ”Moving beyond the Antimicrobial Resitance National Action Plan: development to implementation.”
Toolbox – Policy – Develop a national action plan
Monitoring and evaluation are key components of national action plans on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
To initiate implementation of National Action Plans on AMR - through intervention research projects or other activities - is very challenging in low- and middle-income countries. This has become very clear in the dialogue that both ReAct and ICARS have had with countries in the African region. Now the two organizations are joining hands in a project focusing on this - the challenges to implement National Action Plans in low resources settings. Learn more about the collaboration and its 6 objectives to move from words into action.
Governance structures on antibiotic resistance including sufficient funding to implement national action plans, are transparent, accountable and responsive to low- and middle-income countries needs; and have a framework in place to actively engage with civil society.
Toolbox – Policy – Develop a national action plan
Upon review of the situation analysis, the multi-stakeholder coordinating group should identify priority elements to address in the national action plan, and lay out how the plan should be implemented, costed, and evaluated.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
Ghana recently launched the Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Policy and the accompanying comprehensive National Action Plan. Ghana’s road to the development of a Cabinet approved National Policy and National Action Plan started in February 2011 when there was a call to action: to be champions and advocates to tackle antimicrobial resistance at a two-day workshop organized with support from ReAct. ReAct has been engaged in the process from there on.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
As one of the countries most affected by antimicrobial resistance India is now taking rapid strides to address the growing problem.
Turning the national action plans on antimicrobial resistance into action requires a dedicated budget and committed stakeholders. The coordinating group has an important function to engage the relevant actors and make sure resistance is addressed in appropriate strands of work. Important components of the plan are likely already carried out in some form but may have to be scaled up or be adapted to more specifically address resistance. Other components will be new.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
End August, ReAct Asia Pacific participated in the consultation "National consultation to operationalize Action Plan for AMR containment" held in New Delhi, India.
Sujith J Chandy, Head of ReAct Asia Pacific, says:
- This is a crucial meeting of all stakeholders, from all sectors, meant to galvanize the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance into on the ground operationalization.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
A recently published Antibiotic Resistance Coalition Policy briefing finds World Health Organization Global Action Plan (WHO GAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at crossroads and calls for attention to Comprehensive Review. This briefing is released at a pivotal moment for the WHO to take stock of its progress on the Global Action Plan on AMR. In addition, the many National Action Plans on AMR must be properly financed, but this remains challenging during the global pandemic which has become the forefront of health policy decision-making. Considering this, the briefing identifies eight pillars of action that should be taken to comprehensively address the global solutions to antimicrobial resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
To ensure stakeholders are taking action on the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, the Tripartite (World Health Organization, Food & Agriculture Organization of United Nations and World Organization for Animal Health) organizations have come together to develop a M&E approach to the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. The focus lies on ensuring the implementation of antimicrobial-resistance-related measures and activities and assessing if these actions are having the intended outcomes.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
World Health Organization have urged all countries to develop national antibiotic resistance strategies. Joakim Larsson, professor and director of CARe (Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research) at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden has read India’s draft for National Action Plan on Antibiotic Resistance. He welcomes the section focusing on emissions from antibiotics production.
Ghana is considered a leading country on the African continent for handling antimicrobial resistance due to the work done and the approach they have taken in developing the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Edith Gavor, Pharmacist and Program Manager at Ghana National Drugs Program, answers here a few questions on Ghana's work and lessons learned so far.
While antibiotic resistance has long been identified as a health issue, it has only recently acquired global political momentum. If we want to tackle the spread of antibiotic resistance, the current high-level attention and commitment must be translated into action at country level.
A five step process is used here to support people involved in the development and implementation of national action plans on antibiotic/antimicrobial resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) champions from 14 predominantly African countries gathered in Machakos, Kenya to share experiences and updates on the progress of their implementation of National Action Plans (NAPs) on AMR.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2016
The bulk of the world’s antibiotics is used in the food animal and agricultural sector, often for non-therapeutic purposes, from where antimicrobial resistance finds its way into the human health sector. Antibiotic production in some parts of the world results in the release of effluents into the environment that further results in increased resistance.
Dr. Lourdes Jarquin is part of the Technical Committee for developing the National Plan on antimicrobial resistance for El Salvador. She started her mission in 2015 with her first training at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO-WHO) in Panama.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
In partnership with South Centre, ReAct Africa hosted its 3rd annual conference. Beginning November, this regional conference brought together 67 participants from 22 African countries. A truly One Health representation, the conference had almost equal representation from the human health, animal health, agriculture and environment sectors.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2016
17 March 2016 From 14-17 March, the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for the Eastern and Mediterranean Region (WHO EMRO) hosted the first regional workshop on National Action Plans for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Casablanca, Morocco. ReAct contributed to the workshop by introducing the ReAct Toolbox, a web-based resource with information on action against AMR....
Toolbox – Policy – Implement the plan
Preventing disease and controlling spread of resistant bacteria is of major importance when tackling antibiotic resistance. This section provides guidance and tools to address and implement Infection prevention and control in national action plans on antimicrobial resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
The 3rd RAN Conference held in Machakos Kenya mid September brought together Antimicrobial Champions from 16 countries. Discussions centered around implementation of the National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance, progress made, common challenges faced and possible solutions. In promoting south - south exchanges, colleagues from India, Sweden and the US participated in the conference. The conference takes a roundtable discussion format to encourage participation.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
During the summer the UN Interagency Coordination Group (IACG) released six discussion papers for public consultation to solicit feedback on the work of IACG to inform its future deliberations. Members of the Antibiotic Resistance Coalition (ARC), including ReAct, convened to discuss and submitted responses to the first set of discussion papers.
A few take aways from the ARC responses are that Research & Development and access need better coherence with UN Political Declaration on AMR, National Action Plans on AMR need to mainstream antimicrobial resistance into broader development areas and Surveillance and Monitoring is needed to inform public health actions and to trigger policy change. Further down you can also read how the ARC responses relate to other stakeholders' responses.
African countries suffer from the burden of infectious diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Both treatments of infections as well as most modern medical procedures rely on functioning antibiotics. Resistance is estimated to lead to 10 million deaths per year worldwide in 2050, of which most deaths will be reported in low-and middle-income countries. Therefore, antibiotic resistance is a major threat in Africa and requires a range of interventions and a multidisciplinary approach.
Toolbox – Policy – Inspirational examples
Startled by the dire consequences of antibiotic resistance, the Ministry of Health Ghana was inspired to take action and established the National Platform on Antimicrobial Resistance (NPAR) as the driving institution behind the antimicrobial resistance agenda in Ghana. This text describes the early work towards a national action plan in Ghana.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
2019 has been an important year in the global response to Antimicrobial Resistance. The recommendations put forward by the UN Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance this year now needs to be acted upon and implemented. We see some first moves towards strengthening global governance on Antimicrobial Resistance. Other major important steps forward has been led by processes of the United Nations, but also by countries, organizations and individuals. In 2020 Governments and other actors should grasp the existing momentum and ensure that this progress continues.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
End July, the workshop “National Workshop on AMR and Antibiotic Use: For Voluntary Organisations” was organised by ReAct Asia Pacific. The workshop was meant as a platform to engage various civil society organizations and sensitise them about the implications of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the need to improve antibiotic use.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
PRESS RELEASE
Memorundum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Health, Republic of Zambia and ReAct Africa.
Lusaka, Zambia & Uppsala, Sweden, 18 November 2021 – The Zambia Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinating Committee (AMRCC) through the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) and ReAct Africa today announce the extension of their Memorandum of Understanding on supporting the implementation of Zambia’s Multi-sectoral National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. The renewed MoU extends support to the AMRCC and the Zambia strategic response program against antimicrobial resistance (ZSRA-AMR).
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
Mid October a high level workshop to discuss antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was held in Kerala, India. Stakeholders of the region joined the workshop to find solutions on how to move forward in the state’s work on antimicrobial resistance. A State Action Plan on AMR will be developed, the first subnational plan in India.
With the onset and fast pace of globalization, global governance helps address issues that affect all countries regardless of borders. Antibiotic resistance is one such threat to the security of people all over the world.
In 2015 recognizing the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance the World Health Organization endorsed a Global Action Plan on AMR. The five objectives that the Global Action Plan aimed for were improving awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance, strengthening surveillance and research, reducing the incidence of infection, optimizing the use of antimicrobial medicines in human and animal health and ensuring sustainable investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines, and other interventions. How far along are we?
Toolbox – Policy – Develop a national action plan
A well informed and evidence based national action plan has a higher chance to be successfully implemented and to produce results for the benefit of public health.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
End April, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)75th session hosted a high-level interactive dialogue on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The dialogue had participation from government leaders, industry leaders, health and development experts, delegates of the Tripartite-plus (WHO, OIE, FAO & UNEP) as well as representatives from civil society organisations including ReAct Africa and South Centre. Here you can find a few key points from the meeting.
Toolbox – Policy – Implement the plan
Surveillance of antibiotic resistance in priority bacteria from humans, food animals, and environmental sources is an essential component of a national action plan on antibiotic resistance.
Toolbox – Policy – Develop a national action plan
Ensuring true engagement of all relevant stakeholders is essential for an antibiotic resistance policy to be successful and to ensure a sustained effort.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
La Paz, Bolivia, located at 3800 meters above sea level, multiethnic and multicultural, was the venue for the International Workshop Seminar "Understanding Antimicrobials, Caring for the Health of Mother Earth, Healing Us", in mid May, held by ReAct Latin America. The five day long workshop resulted in definitions and strategies for onward action on antibiotic resistance.
Movement building to address antibiotic resistance together!
Civil society play a crucial role not only in influencing and informing the development of strategies and policies to manage antibiotic resistance at global and national level. They are also key actors in amplifying the reach of awareness raising activities and in translating adopted policies and strategies into real change on the ground and in communities.
Toolbox – Policy – Inspirational examples
There was a rapid increase in resistance to penicillin among pneumococci in southern Sweden in the early 1990s. It soon became evident that a coordinated national strategy was needed to deal with the problem, which lead to the foundation of the Swedish strategic programme against antibiotic resistance, Strama, in 1995.
ReAct Africa – National Action Plans
PRESS RELEASE Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Health, Republic of Zambia and ReAct Africa. Lusaka, Zambia & Uppsala, Sweden, 18 November 2021 – The Zambia Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinating Committee (AMRCC) through the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) and ReAct Africa today announce the extension of their Memorandum of Understanding on supporting the...
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2016
4 July 2016 Antibiotic resistant bacteria are spreading at an alarming rate and some bacterial infections may once again be untreatable. Antibiotic resistance (ABR), conservatively calculated, causes more than 500 000 deaths every year. This number is projected to rise dramatically if radical actions are not taken. Lack of effective antibiotics, diagnostics and vaccines threatens...
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
Investing to deliver on the objectives of the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance is urgently needed. The return of economic and health investments in managing antimicrobial resistance will be large and are needed across several sectors to minimize the negative impact of antimicrobial resistance. The current lack of a ‘go-to-place’ for funding the implementation of National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance poses high risks in weakening global political momentum and delaying urgent actions. A sustainable financing mechanism for antimicrobial resistance interventions and capacity building should be called for by low- and middle-income country governments and made accessible by international donors and investors.
Countries should not reinvent the wheel. Since 2016, ReAct Africa has held an annual conference that brings together key people from multiple countries and CSOs to not only share experiences and best practices, but also the obstacles and failures, to support each other in the development of National Action Plans. Since 2018, ReAct Africa has partnered with South Centre to co-host the annual region conferences. We believe there is strength in partnership.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
The rapidly rising antibiotic resistance challenge requires the world’s urgent collective response. The coming years will be instrumental for shaping the future governance of how the global community and individual countries are going to manage the risk of losing effective antibiotics as a global public good. This piece looks at where we stand on the path towards the UN General Assembly 2019 where antimicrobial resistance will be on the agenda.
Join the Global Campaign - From people to leaders! Act on AMR NOW! – Sign the Global Call
We, the global coalition of communities, civil society organizations, health professionals, patient groups, scientists, agroecologists, academic institutions, educators, artists, activists, and indigenous peoples’ representatives, unite to raise our voice and concerns over the threat that antibiotic resistance (within the broader context of Antimicrobial Resistance, AMR) poses to our collective sustainable development and well-being.
Building on the Latin American and Caribbean initiative “Empowered Communities to Tackle AMR” (1), we call upon governments to make strong political commitments at the UN General Assembly High-Level meeting 2024 on AMR and to recognize the important role of communities and civil society in the global response to AMR.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
End July ReAct Africa, together with South Centre, arranged its annual conference, bringing stakeholders on antimicrobial resistance in the Africa region together. This year's theme was antimicrobial resistance and the link to Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals. Dr. Rashid Abdi Aman, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kenya, officially opened the conference highlighting that AMR is a serious public health concern with health, economic, political and social effects:
"There is therefore need to mitigate beyond the health agenda." He further emphasized on the linkage between AMR, UHC and SDGs. He lauded the theme of the conference, saying that it was timely and would inform the UN high level meeting, set to be held in September 2019.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
ReAct Africa and South Centre hosted the 6th Annual Conference from 30 November to 3 December 2021 under the theme; ‘Progress achieved on the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and pandemic preparedness in the African Region’. The 4-day conference was the 2nd virtual conference that brought participation for 47 countries worldwide. Here you can find the 3 objectives for the conference, key takeaways and way forward.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
Two ReAct colleagues, Mirfin Mpundu, Head of ReAct Africa, and Otto Cars, founder of ReAct and Senior Strategic Adviser, have been featured in interviews in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization April and June issues. Common themes in these interviews are the limited action on antibiotic resistance in many countries, and that the problem of antibiotic resistance needs to be viewed from a systems perspective.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
During 2018 ReAct Africa helped putting antibiotic resistance on the agenda in the African region by engaging various countries and organizations in the region. This by giving technical and financial support to three African countries developing their National Action Plans on AMR, by holding two important regional stake holder forums and by engaging civil society during World Antibiotic Awareness Week.
Toolbox – Policy – Develop a national action plan
Which areas should be included in a national action plan?
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
React Africa and South Centre hosted their third annual conference from 1st to 4th December 2020, under the theme, “What is the status of the Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plans in the African Region?” The conference was held as a virtual event due to COVID-19 restrictions on travel and public gatherings. A full conference report will be shared within 3 weeks. At a glance though, there where 4 key takeaways from the conference. To access the report e-mail: musonda.lamba@reactafrica.org
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
During the 70th World Health assembly held in Geneva in late May, 60 countries and 11 non-state actors took the floor in what ended up being a 3-hour long debate on antimicrobial resistance. The debate touched on progress in developing national action plans and challenges in their implementation; support and concerns over the joint WHO, OIE and FAO progress document on the Development and Stewardship Framework as well as the newly established ad-hoc UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group. Countries also discussed and adopted a resolution on sepsis and even agreed on a dedicated AMR budget line in the increased overall WHO budget for 2018-19.
Toolbox – Policy – Implement the plan
All antibiotic use, whether appropriate or not, can promote the emergence of resistance in bacteria. Unfortunately, inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics is common in both high and low income countries, and in both the human and animal sectors. To limit inappropriate use of antibiotics is crucial to preserve antibiotic effectiveness for both human and veterinary medicine.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
The ReAct Africa and South Centre Annual conference was held as a hybrid event from 25-27 July, 2022 in Lusaka Zambia and Virtually on Zoom under the theme; Africa’s response to Antimicrobial Resistance: Accelerating One Health National Action Plans implementation for the next 5 years. Here you find a few key takeaways from the 3-day conference.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
21 June ReAct and South Centre hosted the webinar: The silent pandemic of antimicrobial resistance: New opportunities for global action? Learn more and look at webinar.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
Under the theme “Making the World Safe from the Threats of Emerging Infectious Diseases”, this year’s Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) 2018 will give the challenge of antibiotic resistance prominent attention, reflected both in the main conference program and in several side events.
Antibiotic resistance finally features high up on the global political agenda both at the United Nations and World Health Organization.
ReAct Africa and South Centre co-hosted the 6th AMR Annual Conference in partnership with International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS), Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), AMR Policy Accelerator and support from The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Fleming Fund and the Ministry of Health Zambia through Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI). The conference was hosted in Lusaka, Zambia from 14th -16th August, 2023 under the theme "Leave No One Behind: Advancing One Health Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plans Implementation in Africa".
The hybrid conference had an attendance of 156 physical participants from 38 countries; 29 African and 9 international as well as a total of 136 virtual participants, reflecting registrations from 67 countries worldwide.
African countries suffer from the burden of infectious diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Both treatments of infections as well as most modern medical procedures rely on functioning antibiotics. The Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) paper published in 2022 provides a helpful global estimate of the burden of AMR, with new evidence showing that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a leading cause of death globally, higher than HIV/AIDS or Malaria. New estimates have revealed that at least 1.27 million deaths in 2019 were attributable to AMR. Therefore, antibiotic resistance is a major threat in Africa and requires a range of interventions and a multidisciplinary approach.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
This 71st session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) offers a unique space for health specialists, in a multitude of areas affecting global health and its future, to interact, share and learn. Mirfin Mpundu, Head of React Africa, contributed to a side brainstorming event for civil society with the title: "AMR Control: Are We Off Track?"
Antibiotic resistance – Course: Antibiotic Resistance - The Silent Tsunami – Part 4
Over the last few years, political commitment to address antibiotic resistance has markedly increased. Antibiotic resistance is now widely recognized as a major threat to global health and therefore countries and international actors increasingly recognize the need to work together to find sustainable solutions.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
This year ReAct Africa and South Centre will be hosting the annual conference as a hybrid event under the theme: "Africa’s response to Antimicrobial Resistance: Accelerating One Health National Action Plans implementation for the next 5 years." The event will take place Monday 25th July to Wednesday 27th July.
The POLICY focus area of the Toolbox describes the practical steps to develop or strengthen policies on antibiotic resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
The very first Plenary Assembly of the recently created Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform (MSPP) on AMR was held in Rome, Italy, on the 15-16th of November 2023. The platform is a voluntary collaborative coordination mechanism to catalyze a global movement for action against AMR.
Toolbox – Understand – What can I do?
The antibiotic resistance issue affects and involves many different actors, activities and sectors of society. In order to address the problem it is critical to develop appropriate policies on regional, national as well as global levels.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2024
2024 is a crucial year to mobilize for stronger action on antibiotic resistance and ReAct is proud to be able to further expand its work this year. We are initiating new collaborations at local, national and global level. The financial support from our donors makes this work possible!
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
Can there be such a thing as an antibiotic smart community? If so, how could processes towards this be initiated and systematically approached? These questions, and an urging feeling that to be able to implement the National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance there is a need for a bottom-up engagement approach. Communities need to engage for action on the global health challenge we all are facing - drug-resistant bacteria. With this mindset, ReAct Asia Pacific initiated the project Antibiotic Smart Communities.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
ReAct has for many years focused much effort on driving the issue of antibiotic resistance up the global political agenda. Today global political awareness about antibiotic resistance has reached unprecedented levels. Now ReAct will align its work to respond to the next challenge: to ensure that the long-awaited response is corresponding to meet the actual needs, in particular in low- and middle-income countries. To address this new situation, ReAct will focus on four strategic areas in the coming five years, this with continued core funding from Sida.
Toolbox – Policy – Implement the plan
Tracking antibiotic consumption within a country is an important component of a national action plan.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
With the aim of reducing the use of antimicrobials in intensive animal husbandry and its impacts on human and ecosystem health, the participants of the Latin American Webinar "Intensive Animal Husbandry, Animal Welfare and Antibiotic Use" signed a Call.
The Call is urging governments and members of the teams and commissions responsible for the National Action Plans on AMR, the design and implementation of policies, to limit the use of antibiotics in agri-food systems.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
Same as last years, ReAct will arrange and participate in a various set of activities during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2021. There will be a mix of hybrid events, online events, on-location events and online campaigns. ReAct will engage with students, engage for children, hold or participate in webinars focusing on antibiotic resistance and for example community engagement, cancer, and National Action Plans. ReAct will also arrange various types of online engagement: community workshops, media workshops, civil society meetings, engage in the WHO Go-blue for AMR campaign and much more. We have listed all activities below.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
It has been almost 5 years since the global leaders committed at the UN General Assembly in 2016 and adopted the landmark UN Political Declaration on antimicrobial resistance.
At the time of the UN High-level Interactive Dialogue on Antimicrobial Resistance taking place today, it is a cold reality that identified barriers and systems challenges common to COVID-19 and antibiotic resistance remain valid today, while coordinated action has not kept pace on a global scale. It should be a wake-up call and time is ticking for the global community to walk the talk on antibiotic resistance, of which the individual and societal consequences are more detrimental and far reaching.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
The Netherlands hosted the 2nd Ministerial Conference on AMR – Accelerating Ambitions for Future Health, taking place 19-20 June in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The Conference aimed to bring together Ministers of health and high-level policy makers to reflect on the progress of the global implementation of the Global Action Plan on AMR, and to identify approaches to accelerate the multi-sectoral work for the coming years and to intensify the international cooperation.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
10 of November ReAct Asia Pacific is hosting a webinar focusing on community engagement and a novel indicator framework that the region developed via the project Antibiotic Smart Communities. During the webinar ReAct Asia Pacific will share learnings for the project, you will listen to AMR-experts from across the globe and the 1,5 hour long webinar will end with a panel discussion. There will also be opportunity to ask questions.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
The Latin American & Caribbean Meeting of Empowered Communities arranged the first set of the meeting-days on One Health Day, November 3. The second set is coming now - 17-18 November. The meeting approaches antibiotic resistance as a planetary health problem that affects human beings, animals and the environment.This is a collaboration between ReAct Latin America, PAHO (Pan American Health Organization), the Global Health Consortium of Florida International University and South Centre. You can learn more about the event, find agenda and link to register in this article.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
On September 21, 2016, prompted by calls from academia, civil society organizations and the World Health Assembly, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convened a high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance - which agreed on a political declaration on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Despite the many commitments made by UN Member States in the declaration the individual and societal consequences of antibiotic resistance continue to spiral upwards.
Professor Otto Cars, former member of the UN Interagency Coordination Group on AMR, gives his view on the status quo five years after the adoption of the political declaration. ReAct staff from across the ReAct network also give their perspectives on the impact of the political declaration in the African region, in Latin America and in India.
The ReAct Asia-Pacific (RAP) node works on multiple projects and initiatives related to AMR, from piloting an ‘Antibiotic Smart Communities’ program in the southern Indian state of Kerala to working among college students to starting clubs that create awareness on antibiotic use. RAP reaches out to a wide range of stakeholders, especially policymakers and state governments - to engage with them on the implementation of the National Action Plan on AMR. A key focus is also to identify and bring together different civil society groups working on community engagement in AMR-sensitive and AMR-specific issues.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
ReAct – Action on Antibiotic Resistance is a global network working to catalyze global, national and local action on antibiotic resistance. Founded in 2005, ReAct was one of the first actors to articulate the complex nature of antibiotic resistance and its drivers, and to promote a holistic approach to engaging all of society in tackling this global health threat. ReAct is now looking for a visionary and experienced director to lead the work of the ReAct Asia Pacific node.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
An increasing number of infections are untreatable due to antimicrobial resistance. An estimated 214,000 newborns die every year from sepsis caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria, and lack of effective antibiotics threatens both basic and advanced medicine. The negative impact also extends well beyond health with serious implications on poverty reduction and inequality, animal welfare, the environment, food safety and security.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
As global attention and political will to address the rising tide of antibiotic resistance has increased over the last years, and a wider range of actors starting to become involved in the field, the urgency of developing global governance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is growing.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2016
27 October 2016 ReAct and the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) through the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly assist African countries to develop National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). “ I am delighted that this collaboration has come into existence as it will...
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2020
ReAct Africa and South Centre will host this year’s annual conference virtually as a result of COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings and travel. The conference will be held from 1-4 December under the theme, “What is the status of the Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plans in the African Region?”
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2020
During World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2020, ReAct will arrange and participate in a various set of activities - most online due to COVID-19. The activities will mainly be arranged from Latin America, Africa and Asia Pacific. ReAct will engage with students, engage for children, hold or participate in webinars focusing on antibiotic resistance and for example cancer, innovation and National Action Plans. ReAct will also arrange various types of online engagement: community workshops, media workshops, civil society meetings and much more. We have listed all activities below.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
“Managing antimicrobial resistance should be done through integration and coordination of various sectors. It should not be merely led by the government, but also collaborated with private sectors, professional associations, academics and other non-governmental sectors. We all have to join hands together,” says Erry Setyawan, FAO National Technical Advisor in Indonesia, on implementing the National Action Plan on AMR in Indonesia.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Antimicrobial Resistance as a top ten priority global health threat for 2019. Three years after the Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance was adopted by all Member States in 2016, we are now at a critical point in time to shape the world’s response to the issue. For 2019, political action must be stepped up. We urge countries to take up the work on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) as a top priority, and would like to see the following happen:
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
The Antibiotic Resistance Coalition (ARC) has again convened to review the second round of papers released by the UN Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG). Earlier we shared the key takeaways from the responses on the first set of discussion papers, and here we summarize the main messages of the ARC responses to the second set of three papers.
The main takeaways from the ARC responses are that future governance of AMR needs to stick to the key principles for any governance process, including transparency, safeguarding against conflict of interest, and fairness of representation. In optimizing the use of antibiotics, both issues of underuse and overuse must be addressed. Monitoring for effective stewardship, but not for access to life-saving antibiotics would set back antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Finally, ARC emphasized the important role of civil society in communicating for AMR and driving collecting action. Civil society should be empowered to take on a bigger role.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
Earlier today a public awareness walk from Uhuru Park to the Kenyatta National Hospital grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, kicked off the World Antibiotic Awareness Week for ReAct Africa.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
Below is a viewpoint published in Brookings Foresight Africa 2021 report written by Patricia Geli, Senior Economist and Public Health Specialist at the World Bank and Professor Otto Cars, founder of ReAct.
The viewpoint is extracted from Chapter 2 of the Foresight Africa 2021 report, which explores top priorities for the region in the coming year. This year’s issue focuses on strategies for Africa to confront the twin health and economic crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic and emerge stronger than ever. Read the full chapter on support for public health.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2020
End February Africa CDC and ReAct Africa convened a workshop targeting civil society organizations in the African region. The main objective of the workshop was to build capacity on antimicrobial resistance advocacy for civil society organizations working in human, animal, agriculture and environmental sectors, including those with substantial experience in advocating for health-related policy changes. Here are some key take aways from the workshop and actions for 2020.
Movement building to address antibiotic resistance together!
Civil society plays an essential role in the work to limit the spread of antibiotic resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2015
15 December 2015 On December 1-5, the “First National Encounter for the Formation of a National Platform on Antibiotic Resistance” was held in San Salvador, El Salvador The goal of the weekly meeting was to promote development of a national platform on antibiotic resistance in El Salvador and Central America with a multi-sectoral holistic approach....
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
The hybrid ReAct Africa & South Centre Conference held in August this year had an attendance of 156 physical participants from 38 countries, and totally reflecting registrations from 67 countries worldwide. The theme for the 3-day conference was: "Leave No One Behind: Advancing One Health Antimicrobial Resistance National Action Plans Implementation in Africa".
During World AMR Awareness Week ReAct Africa and South Centre release the report from the conference held in Lusaka, Zambia.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
Geneva, 1 October 2018
By: Andreas Sandgren, ReAct – Action on Antibiotic Resistance, on behalf of Stichting Health Action International
10:30-12:00 The discussion on the draft framework Chapter 1 and 2 focuses on related overarching questions, scope, objectives & goals, the legal form, and the relationship with the Global action plan on AMR and the IACG.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
This year, the ReAct Africa and South Centre Conference reconvenes in Lusaka, Zambia from 14-16 August and promises to provide a richer and worthwhile experience.
Globally coordinated governance needed
Causing 1.27 million deaths per year, antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest and most urgent cross-border public health threats of our time. However, the global community was late to the table to pick up on the systems failure of antibiotic resistance. Initiatives and collaborations have been initiated since 2015, but stronger globally coordinated governance is needed to drive systemwide response. There is still a long way to go. In this article, you get an overview of the global governance considerations for antibiotic resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
Thailand, being one of the most committed countries in dealing with antimicrobial resistance, proved the perfect host for this productive conference, with over 1000 visitors from over 70 countries. Given the strong emphasis on antimicrobial resistance, several people from ReAct joined the conference and discussions on sustainable solutions to contain antibiotic resistance. Antimicrobial resistance was at the top of the agenda, and for the first time at a high-level conference prominently discussed as an emerging infectious disease.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2016
The World Antibiotic Awareness Week is currently ongoing. ReAct Africa is supporting her champions to raise awareness on antibiotic resistance in several sub-Saharan Africa countries. In this article we highlight two activities from Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Toolbox – Policy – Inspirational examples
Realizing the enormous costs of antibiotic resistance to Thai society, Thailand has paved its own unique road to dealing with resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
On 9–10th of May, ReAct in collaboration with Uppsala University hosted a well-attended dialogue meeting with the title “The Global Need for Effective Antibiotics - Unlocking Barriers for Collective Action”. Within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the meeting gathered experts from more than 20 countries including representatives from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to discuss concrete ways to achieve stronger global actions on antibiotic resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
The rapid spread of antibiotic resistance around the world has evoked calls at the highest levels of the United Nations and its member governments to urgently adopt measures to tackle the growing problem. While these and other global and national policy initiatives are highly welcome and much needed, the world cannot afford to solely wait for them to be translated into action and change on the ground.
The top-down approach needs to be complemented with action and mobilization on grass-root level since the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance is tightly linked to the practices and behaviors of individuals.
Community and civil society mobilization is critical for a strong and sustainable action on antibiotic resistance. To be able to reach the strategic objectives in this plan, ReAct has identified community and civil society mobilization as a critical enabler and way of working.
Toolbox – Prevent infection – Health care
The WHO and other actors have outlined core components of infection prevention and control (IPC) to prevent health care-associated infections (HAIs) and manage antibiotic resistance at the health care facility and on national level.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2024
In the fall of 2023, ReAct, Uppsala Antibiotic Center and Antibiotic Smart Sweden initiated an educational webinar and workshop series for promoting a systematic and meaningful engagement of communities and civil society groups as key stakeholders in the global response to antibiotic resistance. Now the collaboration releases a summary report from the initiative this far.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
In September this year, a high-level meeting on tuberculosis (TB) will take place during the UN General Assembly. In preparation for this meeting the World Health Assembly (WHA) will adopt a resolution which includes the proposal for a multisectoral accountability framework. There are parallels between the accountability framework and the antibiotic resistance debate, and could contain valuable lessons for the way forward on issues such as governance, accountability and monitoring for antibiotic resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
The discussions on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at the World Health Organization's (WHO’s) 140th Executive Board meeting, had several interesting interventions from Member States on the key areas that the WHO was given responsibility over in the UNGA Political Declaration on AMR from September 2016.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2015
10 November 2015 During World Antibiotic Awareness Week (16-22 November) ReAct arranges a series of activities. These include exhibitions, launch of a gardening toolkit, seminars, media conferences, cyclo ride, workshops, presentations, radio shows and many more. Countries covered by these activities are Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Malaysia, East Timor, Thailand and Ecuador. See list below...
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
Almost 1.3 million people die every year due to antibiotic resistance. The Swedish EU Presidency has highlighted the problem but more needs to be done, says ReAct - Action on Antibiotic Resistance and Médecins Sans Frontières Sweden in opinion editorial published in the Swedish magazine Omvärlden.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
At the yearly ReAct Africa Conference in Zambia in July, the Director General of the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) Professor Roma Chilengi, launched the Zambia Strategic Program for Antimicrobial Stewardship (ZASPARS). The program is an adaptation of the Swedish strategic programme against antibiotic resistance (STRAMA) which has led to a significant reduction of the inappropriate use of antibiotics in Sweden since its introduction in 1995.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic - the next one is already here: antibiotic resistance. Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic can help mobilize urgent global action to address the silent pandemic of antibiotic resistance affecting countries throughout the world. Antibiotics are critical components of all health systems. In an article published online in The Lancet Global Health June 15, 2021, authors from the senior leadership of ReAct, argue that a health system approach nationally and globally is critical to mitigate the devastating consequences of antibiotic resistance. The article below is the full text published in Lancet Global Health.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic - the next one is already here: antibiotic resistance. Lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic can help mobilize urgent global action to address the silent pandemic of antibiotic resistance affecting countries throughout the world.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
The African region is beset with multiple challenges which negatively impact the capacity to address antimicrobial resistance. Surveillance and laboratory data is sparse and there is concern that the National Action Plans on AMR are not founded on a strong evidence-base detailing the specifics of the problem nor on interventions proven to be effective in African contexts. Furthermore, there is concern that in the absence of robust evidence, interventions and policies will not make efficient and effective use of already scarce resources. This is why ReAct Africa hosted a research priority setting workshop end 2018.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
ReAct is very glad to announce the establishment of an expert advisory group for our web-based Toolbox for action on antibiotic resistance. The advisory group is composed of renowned experts from the antibiotic resistance field. They come from a variety of professional backgrounds and geographic locations, to reflect the diverse settings and work that ReAct is carrying out.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
A crucial autumn for policy in the field of antibiotic resistance is coming up. Important steps in defining what the global response to the challenge of generating innovation of new crucial antibiotics while ensuring their affordable access and sustainable conservation will likely be taken. Two policy processes in particular will be on our radar: The setup of the G20 International innovation collaboration hub and the Member State consultation on the WHO’s proposed Development and Stewardship Framework in early November. The development and implementation of national action plans at country level will be a third track that we continue to follow and support.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
2022 is coming to an end. And the silent pandemic of antibiotic resistance is growing right before our eyes. 1,27 million people die from antibiotic resistance every year. 7,7 million people die from bacterial infections every year. To add on to this, bacteria see no borders - we all are connected - humans-animals-environment - so the challenge rises far beyond human health.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
From May 14 to 18, the city of La Paz, Bolivia, will host the International Workshop Seminar "Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance, Caring the Health of Mother Earth, Healing Us".
An event that brings together professionals from Bolivia, El Salvador, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Australia and Sweden, to address antibiotic resistance from a One Health perspective.
ReAct Africa – ReAct Africa Network (RAN) Conferences
ReAct Africa and South Centre will co-host the 2024 regional AMR annual conference from 9th - 11th July, under the theme; Global Accountability for AMR response: Investing in priorities for Africa.
The conference will be hosted in partnership with International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS), Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), AMR Policy Accelerator and support from The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Fleming Fund, Wellcome Trust and the Ministry of Health Zambia through Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI).
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
In the early 1990s, a group of clinical specialists in Sweden realized that action was needed against antibiotic resistance, as multi-drug resistant pneumococci were increasingly seen among children. Although Sweden has a well-structured health care system, the antibiotic stewardship efforts were weak and not coordinated. While some physicians had seen the huge impact of antibiotics on health first-hand, many seemed oblivious to the consequences of overuse.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
Dr. Jaya Ranjalkar is the new Interim Director for ReAct Asia Pacific. She joined ReAct in 2017 as a Senior Research Officer. Dr. Ranjalkar is a medical doctor and has worked in various public health related projects before joining ReAct.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
Several buildings in Hyderabad, capital of Telangana state in India, will be lit blue on 24 November as part of the World Health Organization’s ‘Go Blue’ campaign to raise awareness on antimicrobial resistance. ReAct Asia Pacific was one of the co-organizers among many other activities in the region set up by ReAct Asia Pacific.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2020
ReAct Africa joined and partnered with various civil society and intergovernmental organisations in the region to commemorate this year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week through various activities held mostly online due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
2018 ends on a high note for ReAct Asia Pacific thanks to exciting new initiatives on antimicrobial resistance in the southern Indian state of Kerala together with a steady expansion of the campaign to curb antibiotics in food-animal production in south and south-east Asia.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
ReAct Africa and South Centre will hold an antimicrobial resistance (AMR) focused conference from the 5-7 November in Nairobi, Kenya, on the theme, “Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Africa to achieve the 2030 Agenda.” This conference will review progress in how antimicrobial resistance effects progress towards achieving the 2030 agenda on sustainable development. It will identify gaps and opportunities for regional and global collaboration.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
We would like to thank you for 2017 with wishes for an exciting 2018!
Here you find ReAct wishes for 2018, node by node. Together we can make a difference.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
In a series of papers in the BMJ, invited authors summarize the most recent developments regarding antimicrobial resistance in the South East Asian region. In these countries, antibiotic use is high and policies are either absent or poorly implemented.
Here we highlight two of these articles focusing on antibiotic use and stewardship. They give good examples and may provide inspiration to other low- and middle-income countries.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
Beginning of May, ReAct Asia Pacific organized a one-day consultation entitled “Workshop on Anti-Microbial Resistance and use of Antibiotics in non-human sectors” at Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the State of Kerala, India. The workshop attracted over 60 delegates, mostly from the government Departments of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Agriculture, Dairy Development and Environment. Apart from this, there was representation from large farms, government institutions, and two state universities.
Below is a collection of commonly asked questions about the purpose and use of the Toolbox.
Toolbox – Policy – Inspirational examples
Two of the five strategic objectives in the Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance explicitly link to estimating the cost burden of antibiotic resistance and/or quantifying the economic effects of a given policy.
Toolbox – Policy – Implement the plan
To curb the development and spread of antibiotic resistance, national and local governments also have to consider actions to limit release and spread of antibiotics and resistant bacteria in the environment.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2024
Mid-April, in a series of powerful and thought-provoking events at the People's Health Assembly in Argentina, ReAct Latin America successfully brought the critical issue of antibiotic resistance to the forefront, emphasizing the need for a multi-sectoral approach to address this global health threat.
About us – How we work and are organized
We have interviewed ReAct staff across the nodes to learn more about their role at ReAct and their work towards a world free from untreatable infections. Mengying Ren is Policy Advisor at ReAct Europe. Her work focuses on policy analysis and advocacy strategies around global governance and financing of antibiotic resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
14 -16 August, ReAct Africa and South Centre co-hosted the 6th regional AMR Conference. It was a successful mix of discussions, performances, posters, key note speakers and a common interest in a robust response to antimicrobial resistance. Here you find 14 key takeaways from the conference days.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
Beginning March, the The Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Antimicrobial resistance (STAG-AMR) had its first meeting. The group is the principal advisory group to the World Health Organization (WHO) on antimicrobial resistance. Both Otridah Kapona, AMR Focal Point for Zambia and Projects Officer at ReAct Africa and Sujith J Chandy, Director of ReAct Asia Pacific, were appointed to the group. We have asked the two new STAG-AMR members a few questions about the newly formed advisory group and their hopes for the future. ReAct would like to express its congratulations for their new appointment.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
Beginning June, ReAct Latin America co-hosted the second Mother Earth conference in Rosario, Argentina. During five days different challenges in regards of human health and ecosystems were addressed and linked to communities, the use of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
On the margins of World Health Assembly that took place in Geneva last week and beginning this week, ReAct together with Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and South Centre organized an event on antibiotic resistance. Hosted at the UNAIDS "Health Innovation Exchange Marketplace’" the event focused on the launch of the report: When the Drugs Don’t Work: Antibiotic Resistance as a Global Development Problem that ReAct and Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation published earlier this year.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
The IACG on AMR released the draft recommendations for public discussion from 29 January to 19 February. This marks the final round of stakeholder input collection before the recommendations are finalized for submission to the UN Secretary General by April 2019. The process towards the UN General Assembly will greatly determine the strategic directions of global response to antimicrobial resistance.
ReAct has developed our main opinions on the draft recommendations and also joined the Antibiotic Resistance Coalition (ARC) discussions for collective civil society response.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
After the launch of the Kerala Antimicrobial Resistance Strategic Action Plan (KARSAP), ReAct Asia Pacific was asked to arrange a workshop for pharmacologists. One of the main purposes of this program was to initiate and strengthen the role of pharmacologists within the antibiotic stewardship team in tertiary care teaching hospitals. This is an important aspect since teamwork in such big hospitals would invariably be needed in conducting the various tasks in the State Action Plan.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
It is widely acknowledged that the consequences of antimicrobial resistance will negatively affect and potentially jeopardize the progress and achievement of sustainable development. In December 2018, ReAct and the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation hosted a meeting in Uppsala, Sweden, inviting around 20 experts in the field of antimicrobial resistance and global health, to discuss funding for the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2016
16 September 2016 On 21st September 2016, Heads of States will convene at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on AMR (antimicrobial resistance) to discuss how countries can collaborate to preserve sustainable global access to effective antibiotics. This represents an unprecedented opportunity as AMR is only the 4th health topic ever discussed on this global forum after HIV/AIDS...
Toolbox – Measure – Antibiotic resistance
Resistance data can be used to support decisions on antibiotic therapy and may facilitate development or revision of treatment guidelines. Data can further be used to inform key stakeholders of the scale of the problem. Here you find guidance, methods and tools to measure antibiotic resistance patterns in bacteria isolated from humans, and can access selected databases and reports on the topic.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2024
Preparatory work is currently underway for the one-day High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance planned this fall, convened by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The High-Level Meeting aims to secure strong political commitment and accelerated action across all sectors and at all levels to address the urgent threat of antimicrobial resistance.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
Anger and fascination for the “know-do gap” – the gap between knowing and doing - led Stefan Swartling Peterson, Chief of Health at Unicef, into global health. He became Professor of Global Health and now he has been Chief of Health at Unicef for almost 3 years - and is constantly focusing on moving from knowledge into action.
He sees strong health systems as key to prevent infections and spread of antibiotic resistance. “Strong health systems, where a midwife is able to wash her hands before she delivers you, but also where drugs and supplies are available and the health worker has been paid and supervised are key”, he says.
Read interview where Professor Swartling Peterson elaborates on the access-excess relation to antibiotics, implementation research methods, strong health systems and future work of Unicef.
Unfortunately, antibiotic resistance cannot be fixed by easy technical interventions and the issue must be addressed on all levels of society. Below, we describe some of the areas that need to be covered. Most of these elements are also included as part of the strategic objectives of the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Join the Global Campaign - From people to leaders! Act on AMR NOW!
Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat that affects all aspects of life, including human and animal health, economies and ecosystems, and which could seriously jeopardize the achievement of several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in 2030. Given below are ten facts about the impact of AMR as well as the state of the global response to it currently.
Join the Global Campaign - From people to leaders! Act on AMR NOW!
Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat that affects all aspects of life, including human and animal health, economies and ecosystems, and which could seriously jeopardize the achievement of several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in 2030. Given below are ten facts about the impact of AMR as well as the state of the global response to it currently.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
In the context of World AMR Awareness week ReAct arranges and participates in a mix of events and engagements such as: empowering communities meeting, photo and video competition, online campaigns, student webinar, launch of videos, interviews, a call for real life stories, exhibitions and much much more. During the week ReAct increases its engagement with key actors such as: policy makers, communities and their leaders, health care givers, students and civil society organizations.
Online, ReAct also joins the World Health Organization "Go-blue for AMR" campaign. You find all ReAct World AMR Awareness Week activities below.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
End last year a new comprehensive study that analyses sewage samples from 234 cities in 101 countries was published. The study highlights the potential of a sewage-based global monitoring system. ReAct reached out to Professor Frank Aarestrup, co-conceiver and co-writer of the study, to learn more about the project and to hear his thoughts on monitoring and surveillance.
ReAct Africa – AMR Champion Interviews
The ReAct Africa Couch Conversation about AMR series. Look at seven short videos with stakeholders from the African region discussing different areas within antimicrobial resistance and work that needs to be done.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
Due to COVID-19, pandemic preparedness and global health security have emerged as the dominating approach to addressing public health crises, of which antimicrobial resistance has been among the priority list. This piece highlights considerations for antimicrobial resistance to be addressed through the pandemic preparedness lens.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2020
Being a zoologist, Jessica Mitchell worked in different countries traveling to remote sites and engaged with the local communities. She enjoyed being able to bring her biological knowledge to an applied problem and support communities to develop their own solutions.
This is when she realized she wanted to develop her human behavior skillset and at the same time use her biology background to address applied problems - such as antimicrobial resistance.
Created in 2005 ReAct is one of the first international independent networks to articulate the complex nature of antibiotic resistance and its drivers. ReAct was initiated with the goal to be a global catalyst, advocating and stimulating for global engagement on antibiotic resistance by collaborating with a broad range of organisations, individuals and stakeholders.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
23-25 July, ReAct Africa and South Centre will host a conference with the theme, “Achieving Universal Health Coverage while addressing Antimicrobial Resistance” in Nairobi, Kenya. This year’s conference will focus on the connection between achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Specifically, the conference will focus on how addressing AMR is a path to attaining UHC and what country programs can be leveraged on.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
Clean, fresh water is one of the most important natural resources of the world. Yet large amounts of chemicals, including antibiotics, are released into the environment through wastewater.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
Ahead of the 140th session of WHO Executive Board, which starts on Monday the 23 of January, ReAct has developed and shared a briefing document on Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for Member State missions in Geneva to consider.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
ReAct's wishes for 2017, node by node.
The issue of antibiotic resistance is complex, and so are possible solutions to manage the situation. ReAct Europe provides up to date, high quality, scientifically credible information on antibiotic resistance and is hosted by Uppsala University, Sweden.
In the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance, Member States are urged to take action to optimize the use of antibiotics. For the animal sector, this includes phasing out use of antibiotics for animal growth promotion and to reduce routine use of antibiotics.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
A rap song and dance contest, colorful exhibitions, video releases and detailed discussions on national policy marked the observance of the World Antibiotic Awareness Week in Thailand.
Toolbox – Raise Awareness – Inspirational examples
Join the yearly world campaign to spread the word and promote action on antibiotic resistance!
About us – How we work and are organized
We have interviewed ReAct staff across the nodes to learn more about their role at ReAct and their work towards a world free from untreatable infections.
Satya Sivaraman is the Communications Coordinator for ReAct Asia Pacific. He has been with ReAct since its inception in 2005 developing communication material, key messages and networking with civil society groups.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
Despite being a period marked by the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, over the last four years, clear progress has been made in global efforts to address antibiotic resistance. During 2019-2022 ReAct evolved as a network and increased its efforts to act on antibiotic resistance at a global, regional and country level. Together, the five ReAct nodes have collaborated - from community level to the highest global political agenda.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
Community engagement was ReAct's focus during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week this year. This in for example Ecuador, India, Zambia and Kenya. Simultaneously, there was increased online activity. ReAct met scientists, policy makers, students, held seminars, arranged meetings and webinars, published videos and intensified activity in social media. ReAct leaves this year's World Antibiotic Awareness Week behind with hope for the future. In this article you find a glimpse of some of the activities ReAct arranged during the week.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
On June 1st 2022, ReAct in collaboration with The Nordic Council of Ministers, Stockholm Environmental Institute and the Swedish International Agriculture Network hosted the hybrid event "The silent antimicrobial resistance pandemic urges a concerted global response - but what needs to be done?". Here you find 5 takeaways from the day and a few next steps.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
Today the most comprehensive data to date on the global burden of antibiotic resistance has been published in the Lancet. An estimated 1.27 million deaths were a direct result of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections in 2019. This points to the fact that world leaders must urgently speed up actions on multiple levels to mitigate the increasing consequences of this crisis.
ReAct Africa – National Action Plans
ReAct Africa, among other partners, has supported and collaborated with the Kenyan Ministry of Health (MOH), right from the NAP development stage.
A public health driven approach for development and delivery of new antibiotics and diagnostics and where access for people in low- and middle-income countries is central will take stronger root among governments and international institutions
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
Working antibiotics have given us a huge boost in quality of life over the last nine decades, but their importance and value is overlooked. Antibiotics play a crucial role in many more areas of life than most people imagine. This new report by ReAct and Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation looks at the state of global development when the drugs don’t work and a post-antibiotic era sets in. The report shows how antibiotic resistance is a global development problem by highlighting existing data and people’s experiences.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
Same as previous years, ReAct focused on regional activities for World Antibiotic Awareness Week in 2018. ReAct Africa, ReAct Asia Pacific and ReAct Latin America arranged about 40 activities to raise awareness and to change behavior - this among general public, media, students, policy makers and health care personnel in the three regions. The activities took place in Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Ecuador and Argentina.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
Studies show that today many pharmaceutical companies are still discharging antibiotics into the environment on a mass scale via wastewater from their production plants. Over the last years pharmaceutical companies made commitments for change, and curbing antibiotic waste has been voiced as one of their top priorities in for instance the Industry Roadmap presented at the Davos Forum in 2016.
Antibiotic resistance – Course: Antibiotic Resistance - The Silent Tsunami – Part 4
Check your understanding and expand your knowledge by taking another quiz! An answer key can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
On January 29, 2018, the first report from the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) was released to the public domain. The release was preceded by a technical webinar to provide background information, highlight some technical features of the system and report, and provide opportunity to discuss the GLASS report.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
During World Antibiotic Awareness Week (13-19 November) ReAct Africa, ReAct Asia Pacific and ReAct Latin America arrange a series of activities to raise awareness among general public, media, veterinarians, farmers, policy makers and health care personnel.
There will be launches of the week and of books, medical education at hospitals, participation in TV-shows and radio shows, a photography contest, media workshops and seminars for veterinarian students and poultry farmers. The activities will take place in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Ecuador. See list below and contacts for more information.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2015
20 January 2015 Today’s international discussion on transition from Millenium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) lacks any reference to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This is, however, alarming situation as if left unchecked, AMR could mean the undoing of all the progress made under the MDGs. So how come such fundamental issue is not in...
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2023
For ReAct Latin America, the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2023 (WAAW) was an opportunity to bring together diverse voices through innovative and inspiring meetings and events. The events harbored diverse voices with the aim of promoting a One Health perspective, providing participants with an opportunity to promote mobilization and action in favor of health. This was achieved by drawing on the practices of communities, the knowledge of academia, and the interconnectedness of humans and the planet to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2018
The Global AMR R&D Hub, an initiative established under the Germany Presidency of G20, and launched in conjuction with the World Health Assembly in Geneva earlier this year. The aim of the hub, according to their own vision, is “to promote high-level coordination among governments and upstream funders from different world regions, in order to better align national and international efforts in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).”
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2017
This week Professor Otto Cars, founder of ReAct – Action on Antibiotic Resistance, was formally nominated to the United Nations (UN) ad-hoc Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (ICG-AMR) by the United Nations Secretary General.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2022
To act on antibiotic resistance, ReAct will arrange and participate in activities during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022. You find a mix of various events and engagements - such as empowering communities meeting, online campaigns, awareness walk, poster competitions, webinars and launch of videos. ReAct will engage students, community leaders, policy makers and civil society organizations. ReAct will also engage in the WHO Go-blue for AMR campaign and much more. You find all ReAct World Antimicrobial Awareness Week activities below.
ReAct Africa – Youth Engagement
In line with the Kenya’s National Action Plan on Prevention and Containment of AMR, ReAct Africa is currently implementing a pilot project that uses the English version of the Alforja Educativa. The project activities, which are being implemented in collaboration with Ace Africa via the Child-to-Child methodology include adaptation of the Alforja Educativa to the Kenyan context and piloting of the adapted Alforja in selected schools in Siaya and Kisumu counties in Kenya.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
With activities on the ground in Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Zambia and Kenya - and with an increased online activity - ReAct leaves this year's World Antibiotic Awareness Week behind with hope for the future. A week of community engagement, interaction and intensified work on antimicrobial resistance is really motivating and strengthening - for a world free from untreatable infections. Learn more about a few of the different activities ReAct arranged during the week.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
In ReAct's series of celebrating ReAct 15 years we decided to talk to our staff across the globe. Maria Pränting is Scientific Coordinator at ReAct Europe hosted by Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. At ReAct I get to combine several things that I feel passionate about - I get to contribute with my expertise in antibiotic resistance and work with science communication.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
In March 2021, over 600 participants from 72 countries convened to discuss antimicrobial resistance and behavioral change at Uppsala Health Summit. The digital meeting was an opportunity for deep reflection and dialogue on how we should approach the antimicrobial resistance crisis with a greater focus on the social and behavioral factors that drive it, through plenary presentations, online discussions and eight focused workshops.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
Tapiwa Kujinga is the Director of the Pan-African Treatment Access Movement (PATAM), a social movement that has taken antimicrobial resistance in Zimbabwe under its wings. He says: "In Zimbabwe civil society is literally involved in every aspect of the response to antimicrobial resistance." Looking back in time, Tapiwa Kujinga notes that when PATAM and involved organizations started working on HIV/AIDS, there was no framework on access to medicines. "We had to work hard in order to get government to come up with a framework. I feel that this is the approach that is required for antimicrobial resistance and for health systems broadly."
In this interview, Tapiwa Kujinga talks about the pros of civil society engagement, the challenges of access and excess, and how PATAM wants to further its engagement.
The story of ReAct started almost 20 years ago with a small group of people, many who are still with the network today. They all shared a passion for global health, and felt the urgency to address the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. The network has since grown, with the presence of offices in four continents and many passionate members working together.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2021
Antimicrobial resistance was back on the agenda when the 148th WHO Executive Board which took place from January 18-26. A number of ReAct's nodes developed position documents for Member State delegates and the WHO to consider in response to the stock taking report produced by the WHO secretariat.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2020
COVID-19 has exposed the fault lines in many health systems and the challenges this poses for addressing emerging infectious diseases, from drug-resistant infections to COVID-19. In our era of globalization, outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases are expected to become more common. This can be a chance to transform communities and health systems and make them resilient to the rising tide of emerging infections and promote health equity. Previous years of Innovate4AMR student competitions organized by ReAct have demonstrated that students can be champions for antimicrobial resistance. This is why we called on students to take up the challenge and become the future innovators in Innovate4Health, a global design sprint to address emerging infectious diseases.
News & Views – News and Opinions – 2019
Beginning June, members of the Antibiotic Resistance Coalition (ARC) and civil society allies convened in Geneva, Switzerland for a three-day conference, “Charting a Civil Society Agenda on Antimicrobial Resistance: Connecting Global to Local.”
Education is an important component of efforts to mitigate antibiotic resistance.
