31/03/2026
In February, senior government officials, health experts and development partners from across East, Central and Southern Africa gathered in Ezulwini, Eswatini for the AMR Pre-Conference Meeting held ahead of the 76th East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) Health Ministers’ Conference.
The meeting provided an important opportunity for countries to strengthen regional collaboration and align priorities ahead of the Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, scheduled for June 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Strengthening Access to AMR Counter-measures
A central theme running through the discussions was access to AMR countermeasures. Participants highlighted persistent challenges affecting access to essential tools needed to address antimicrobial resistance. These barriers include shortages of antibiotics, limited diagnostic capacity, and inequities in access to health services particularly between urban and rural communities.
Participants stressed that the region does not lack viable options; rather, it must more deliberately and consistently pursue well-established approaches such as pooled procurement, regulatory harmonisation, and support for pharmaceutical manufacturing to improve the availability and affordability of medicines, vaccines and diagnostics.
Closing the Financing Gap
Financing emerged as another critical theme during the meeting. While most countries in the region have developed National Action Plans to address AMR, implementation is constrained by inadequate and often fragmented funding. .
However, some countries are beginning to identify ways to embed AMR activities into broader national health and development plans. Zambia, for example, has started incorporating AMR activities into institutional plans, while Malawi is exploring ways to leverage funding streams across different ministries to support surveillance and response efforts.
These examples reflect a broader message, that sustainable AMR financing will require a combination of stronger domestic investment, backed by well-coordinated and strategic support from international partners.
The Importance of Political Leadership
Beyond technical and financial solutions, discussions underscored the growing role of political leadership in advancing AMR responses.
In recent years, countries such as Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania have taken steps to establish parliamentary forums on AMR. These platforms are helping raise awareness of AMR among policymakers and strengthening advocacy for dedicated national funding.
Discussions highlighted how equipping parliamentarians with clear evidence and policy solutions can help translate technical discussions into concrete legislative and budgetary commitments.
Preparing for the Abuja Ministerial Conference
The outcomes of the pre-conference discussions were consolidated into a set of proposals that were presented to the ECSA-HC Health Ministers during the conference.
These proposals are expected to help shape the region’s position ahead of the 2026 Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR, where countries are expected to demonstrate renewed commitment and concrete action towards addressing antimicrobial resistance.
As the meeting concluded, there was a clear sense of shared purpose: addressing antimicrobial resistance will require sustained collaboration, political commitment, and long-term investment in stronger, more resilient health systems.
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