Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as an international health concern and a threat to the use of antibiotics. In this regard, the Alliance Against Antimicrobial Resistance (Triple A) in partnership with Health Intel Trust (HIT) developed recommendations to fight the rise of AMR during the Week Against Antimicrobial Resistance (WAAW) 2024. With the South Centre backing the initiative, the young people in Nigeria were encouraged to take sustainable action to stop the spread of AMR during WAAW.
The 2024 WAAW project theme, “Educate, Advocate, Act Now”, called for a national action plan and awareness campaign against AMR. From a network of young people in all 36 states of Nigeria, 450 youths in 15 selected states were engaged as AMR advocates for the project.
The project was divided into three main phases:
- Capacity Building: 150 youths were involved in a two-day virtual action lab, which was the first of its kind where they were trained on how to use tools such as root cause analysis and vision boards. They co-created strategies for AMR advocacy that addressed the root causes they had identified with the help of trained facilitators.
- Implementation: The youths worked and put into practice the strategies they had developed in Phase 1 in their communities or cities but with continued virtual support from the team.
- Reflection and Networking: A virtual summit with policymakers and government stakeholders. This provided the young ARM advocates the opportunity to present their findings and experiences to the key leaders in the country.
Maryam Abolaji and her team took AMR awareness to Akinyele, Abbatoir, Ibadan
This initiative covered all areas and regions in 13 states and got more than 400 young volunteers to participate in the following campaigns:
- Ibadan: Market and abattoir sensitizations in Oyo State made butchers and meat buyers understand the risks of using antibiotics.
- Kaduna State: Secondary schools and religious institutions’ awareness campaigns explained the need for responsible use of antimicrobials.
- Rivers State: A radio campaign program at Wish FM 99.5 and campus sensitization raised awareness among students and the public.
- Borno State: Preventing AMR was the topic of interest at workshops held at teaching hospitals and which engaged health care providers.
- Jigawa State: The campaign was extended to the public through awareness stickers that Keke Napep riders carried on their daily routes.
In total, over 1,300 educational materials were distributed, and more than 6,000 people were reached through these activities, either directly or indirectly.
Musa Usman and his team led AMR awareness campaign at a secondary school in Yola, Adamawa State
The following strengths and weaknesses can be identified from the project:
The weaknesses of the project include:
- Language Barriers: In Adamawa State, communication faced challenges due to the variety of languages spoken.
- Marginalized Groups: In Sokoto City, discussions highlighted the practice of leaving out people with disabilities from community initiatives.
- Resource Constraints: Limited funding and late disbursement of funds constrained the planning and execution of activities.
Despite these challenges, the project shows how storytelling and community engagement can be used to address public health problems.
The following project outcomes were evident:
- In Rivers State, 80% of the participants showed improvement in their AMR knowledge after the campaign.
- In Benue State, more than 200 pharmacy staff, customers and market attendees were reached through the workshops.
- Social media campaigns garnered over 10,500 impressions, amplifying the initiative’s impact.
The AMR champions who led awareness campaigns in their different states.