Antimicrobial resistance containment in hospital settings in Francophone West Africa

Summary

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat, primarily affecting Sub-Saharan Africa. Particularly Francophone Western African countries are facing multiple challenges: high disease burdens, poorly connected to international scientific fora and receiving the lowest funds globally. Inappropriate use and uncontrolled access to antibiotics, poor infection control and low clinical diagnostic capacity hamper the fight against AMR; National Action Plans on AMR and Essential Medicine Lists are rarely updated or implemented, local AMR data are scarce. Training of hospital staff is insufficient and relies mainly on in-service training.
This ITP offers a field-adapted training package on “AMR containment in hospital settings in Francophone West Africa” in Benin. Our target audience is healthcare staff with different professional backgrounds (laboratory technicians, clinicians, nurses) working in AMR surveillance network hospitals in Benin, Burkina Faso and Guinea. They will be trained in clinical bacteriology and surveillance, Infection Prevention and Control and rational use of antibiotics. Participants with different professional profiles ensure interdisciplinarity and an alumni network offers opportunities for peer learning and networking. Local ownership ensures sustainability of the ITP, local instructors will be trained and the partner institute “Laboratoire de Références des Mycobactéries” will act as a regional training hub on AMR containment. Vulnerable populations (children, rural populations) represent the majority of patients in the AMR surveillance network and will directly benefit from this ITP.
In order to have societal impact (“Sharing Minds, Changing Lives”), we will engage with relevant stakeholders (hospital management, local universities and professional associations) to facilitate the implementation of newly acquired competences in the hospitals and to promote the uptake of the training modules in professional (post-graduate) curricula.

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