SACIDS Upcoming Events

  1. Africa CDC Capacity Building and Workforce Development for Civil Society Organizations on Antimicrobial Resistance

  1. Purpose

Taking into account the health challenges faced by the African continent and the necessity for an accountability framework for health security to protect citizens of the continent, the AU Heads of States and Governments approved the establishment of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) through Assembly Decision|AU|DEC.589 (XXVI, at the AU summit in January 2015 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At its 26th Ordinary Session in January 2016, the Assembly adopted the Statute of the Africa CDC and its framework of Operations. Africa CDC was officially launched on 31st January 2017.

 

  1. Background and Context

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global threat to public health, food security and development today. New resistance mechanisms are emerging and spreading globally and the increasing resistance to existing antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals is rendering these crucial tools ineffective for treatment, including for a wide range of infections, leading to increased mortality and morbidity.

Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causes an estimated 700,000 deaths each year, and, if current trends continue, AMR could result in over 10 million deaths per year and over 100 trillion USD in lost output globally by 2050. In Africa, AMR has already been documented to be a problem for a large number of infections, including those associated with healthcare. Transmission of AMR occurs frequently in health care facilities. Such transmission can have severe consequences, because pathogens in health care facilities are more likely to be multi-drug resistant, hospitalized people are more susceptible to severe illness, and these pathogens can be spread outside of the hospital.  Africa, therefore, is at particularly high risk for the consequences of AMR.

In October 2017, Africa CDC officially launched its Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Control, 2018 – 2023(http://www.africacdc.org/resources/strategic-framework/strategic-framework/africa-cdc-amr-framework-eng/download) .This Framework describes strategies and tactics for Africa CDC to improve surveillance, delay emergence, limit transmission, and mitigate harm of AMR pathogens.

In April 2018, Africa CDC held a workshop with Member States and partners to define priorities for implementing the Africa CDC Framework for AMR.In April 2018, Africa CDC held a workshop with Member States and partners to define priorities for implementing the Africa CDC Framework for AMR Control. Member states of the Africa Union and partners during a meeting recognized the need to mobilize and engage civil society organizations (CSOs) on AMR activities. CSOs have a long experience of transforming public health policies and practice through advocacy, education, and community organizing, but their involvement in AMR has, to date, been limited. In December 2018, Africa CDC convened the first African Civil Society meeting on AMR, to ensure that civil societies utilize their advocacy capacity and experience to push the governments into taking action on AMR. One major outcome was the need for Africa CDC to train CSOs on the comprehension and conceptualization of AMR and its importance, and provide coordination for CSOs working on AMR across member states.

In this regard, Africa CDC in collaboration with ReAct Africa, seeks to build capacity for AMR advocacy and partner with CSOs working in human health, animal health, agriculture, environment, commerce, and sanitation.

 

Workshop Objectives

From 20-21 February 2020, Africa CDC will convene CSOs working in human, animal, and environmental sectors, including those with substantial experience advocating for health-related policy changes.

The overall objectives of the training workshop will be to:

  1. Provide training on the basics of AMR; infection, prevention and control; one health; and communication and advocacy
  2. Highlight key regional and global developments and initiatives on AMR, including the latest developments regarding the African Union’s work on AMR and activties of the tripartite organizations
  3. Discuss measures to increase public awareness of the AMR issue and the role of civil society and educational and information-related bodies.
  4. Develop proposals for further action at the national, regional and global levels (actions by governments, CSOs, UN agencies etc.).

 

Target Participants 

The workshop will engage about 40 participants; CSOs from Member States; Africa CDC representatives; ReAct Africa representatives; Africa CDC RCCs; AMR focal persons; and technical partner organizations.

Venue

Africa CDC will host a workshop for capacity building and workforce development Civil Society Organizations on Antimicrobial Resistance, 20-21 February 2020,in Nairobi Kenya.

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