During the UN General Assembly high-level meeting on AMR, Mercy Kukundakwe and Dr Tasha Koch shared their experiences in advocating for AMR in Uganda and South Africa. This discussion offers an overview of the innovative, community-driven approaches both Mercy and Tasha are using to communicate the importance of addressing AMR, and how they are empowering individuals to take an active role in their health and the health of their communities.
Mercy Kukundakwe is a public engagement specialist with extensive experience in HIV advocacy and patient support. She currently leads the Greater Involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA) programme at the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) in Uganda. The GIPA program is a patient-led initiative that builds a network of volunteers to support HIV treatment adherence and provide patients with entrepreneurial skills to help them become self-sufficient. Through her work, she has helped empower many people to live positively with HIV, and she also works with the Governance Council, a patient advocacy group that serves as a bridge between patients and IDI’s administration.
Dr Tasha Koch, co-founder of Eh!woza, has been leading an initiative that combines art, science, and community engagement to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB) and other health issues, particularly in underrepresented communities in Cape Town. Founded in 2013 with conceptual artist Ed Young, Eh!woza has since evolved from an informal project into an independent NPO based in Cape Town. Dr Tasha completed her PhD at the University of Cape Town in 2015 and received a Carnegie Corporation DEAL fellowship in 2017 to study M. tuberculosis genomics. She also serves as a molecular biology advisor to the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation’s Aerobiology Research Centre. In 2020, supported by a Wellcome Trust Discretionary Award, Dr Tasha began working full-time on Eh!woza, overseeing public engagement, impact assessment, and examining how social factors influence people’s use of medical treatments.
You can watch the full conversation between Mercy and Tasha below.
Thank you, CAMO-NET, for highlighting these incredible community-led initiatives. It’s truly empowering to see how each day brings more individuals who are learning about AMR. This inspires us to keep pushing forward and find new ways to engage even more people in this important conversation. Let’s continue working together to spread the message and make a greater impact!