WAAW 2024: How CAMO-Net educates & advocates to address AMR
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing global health issue that affects the entire world, but is often called a silent pandemic because, despite its significant impact, it does not receive the attention or discussion it urgently deserves. To address this issue, the theme of this year’s World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) is “Educate, Advocate, and Act Now.”
CAMO-Net has taken proactive steps to educate communities around the world and advocate for responsible antimicrobial use through innovative initiatives and strategic partnerships.
By simplifying complex scientific concepts through training sessions, workshops, and engaging performances, CAMO-Net empowers individuals to make informed health choices. But we recognise that education alone isn’t enough; advocacy is equally crucial. Around the world, we actively engage with policymakers and community leaders to push for stricter antimicrobial prescription policies.
Community Engagement at Nakawa Market
Last month CAMO-Net Uganda produced an outreach event at Nakawa Market, one of Kampala’s largest fresh produce hubs, engaging over 6,000 vendors and shoppers. Led by CAMO-Net Uganda’s project manager Dr Hope Mackline, the initiative focused on educating the community about the causes of AMR and the simple, everyday actions that contribute to it, with the aim of empowering individuals to take charge of their health. The outreach was enhanced through a partnership with the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Drama Group, who used music, dance, and drama to deliver critical messages about antibiotic misuse.
Their engaging performances illustrated the dangers of self-medication, improper dosages, and sharing antibiotics, while emphasising the importance of seeking medical advice and completing prescribed courses. This creative approach not only educated attendees but also made the information memorable, encouraging a deeper understanding of AMR’s impact on public health.
Empowering the next generation
CAMO-Net Uganda has also partnered with the Uganda Youth Consortium to address the urgent need for stricter antimicrobial prescription policies. They jointly hosted the inaugural National Antimicrobial Resistance Conference in June this year, which focused on youth-led initiatives in the bid to address AMR. The conference brought together diverse stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Health and universities from around Uganda, to discuss the critical role young people play in shaping health policies and promoting responsible antibiotic use.
The conference concluded with the launch of the “Race Against AMR,” a public awareness initiative designed to encourage responsible antibiotic use through community participation.
Advocacy on a global stage
CAMO-Net had a strong presence at the recent United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on AMR in New York. Together with the Fleming Initiative, we hosted an event at the Carnegie Corporation, which highlighted the importance of public engagement and international cooperation in addressing AMR. At the meeting, CAMO-Net members from around the world had the opportunity to showcase their public engagement initiatives to a global audience, emphasising the critical need for international cooperation in addressing AMR. Key figures in global health, including Dame Louise Richardson, President of the Carnegie Corporation, Lord Ara Darzi, Chair of the Fleming Initiative, and CAMO-Net’s lead Professor Alison Holmes, highlighted that AMR is not merely a scientific issue but one that profoundly impacts daily lives.
Read more about the event here.
By focusing on both education and advocacy, CAMO-Net is promoting real change in the conversation around AMR while contributing to developing a more informed and knowledgeable community equipped to address the challenges posed by AMR. Emphasising that together, everyone can educate and advocate for a healthier world.
