Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR) poses a significant global health threat that impacts human and animal health, and the environment, and recognizing the interconnectedness of these sectors will aid in fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and catalyzing innovative solutions to combat AMR effectively.
The above information was disclosed on the 23 of May 2024, when the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC-G at the LSHTM) in collaboration with Ministry of Health, hosted an Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR) and Health Symposium on the theme: “Combating AMR: Insights from Diarrhoeal Diseases Research in The Gambia.”
The symposium brought together 60 health professionals from MRCG, Ministry of Health, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA), the National Environment Agency (NEA), and the University of Washington. The symposium aimed at fostering networking opportunities and promoting insightful discussions among researchers and policymakers, focused on the crucial need to tackle the escalating threat of AMR using a One Health approach.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Davis Nwakanma, Head of Operations at MRCG, highlighted that “collaborating with the Ministry of Health is crucial to us, especially in our efforts to combat anti-microbial resistance (AMR).’’
This, he said, demonstrates a significant step towards achieving meaningful results, and said the symposium is expected to promote a multi-disciplinary approach to combat AMR within the context of diarrhoeal diseases in The Gambia; accelerate the implementation of AMR National Action Plans, and strengthen capacity for AMR efforts by mobilizing sustainable financing for research, infrastructure, and AMR national action plans implementation.
“MRCG at the LSHTM has been a key partner of the Ministry of Health in combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We aim to advance efforts to ensure sustainable healthcare practices and develop robust strategies to tackle AMR on a global scale,” Babanding Sabally, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Technical at the Ministry of Health said.
During the symposium, participants discussed challenges and potential solutions for mitigating AMR in The Gambia and the broader sub-region, and featured presentations from experts who shared their knowledge, experiences, and cutting-edge research findings on AMR.
