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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has launched a strategic four-pillar framework aimed at steering both national and international responses to the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Tochi Okwor, Head of Disease Prevention and Control at the NCDC, shared the details during an interview with journalists on Saturday in Abuja, emphasising the urgency of a coordinated response.
“We are at a critical point. If we are to make meaningful progress in the fight against AMR, we must adopt a pragmatic and inclusive approach built on four key pillars,” she said.
The first pillar, Ms Okwor noted, is strategic information and pragmatism, highlighting the need for dependable data to drive effective AMR surveillance, policies, and interventions.
“Data must guide every step we take, and our strategies must be realistic and tailored to the unique realities of our health system,” she said.
The second pillar, titled “Equity Must Be Central,” focuses on the necessity of fair access to quality antimicrobials, diagnostics, and AMR-related services, regardless of location or socio-economic status.
“Equity is fundamental. Without it, AMR efforts will remain fragmented and ineffective,” she said.
The third pillar stresses that accountability equals inclusion, advocating for open, transparent processes that involve local communities and healthcare facilities in the fight against AMR.
“Inclusion drives accountability. Communities must have a voice in shaping AMR interventions if we want sustainable outcomes,” she said.
The fourth and final pillar calls for a whole-of-society approach, recognising AMR as a broad societal issue that transcends the clinical domain and demands cross-sector collaboration.
“Antimicrobial resistance threatens our ability to treat infections and safeguard modern medicine.
“These four pillars offer a practical and inclusive roadmap for Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries to mount an effective response,” she said.
AMR arises when microorganisms—such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—develop resistance to medicines designed to eliminate or inhibit them. Though natural genetic changes can lead to resistance, the process is increasingly driven by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in both human healthcare and agriculture.
The consequences are far-reaching: routine infections become more difficult to treat, healthcare costs soar, treatment durations increase, and the risk of death rises significantly.
As a mounting global health crisis, AMR calls for a united, multi-sectoral approach—improving surveillance systems, promoting responsible antimicrobial use, and fostering the development of new treatments to protect future generations.
