The Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network (CAMO-Net) is actively engaged in advocating for groups most at risk from antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Through research, community outreach, and policy advocacy, CAMO-Net is working to address the needs of vulnerable populations, especially women, marginalised groups, and communities in low- and middle-income countries, who are disproportionately affected by the growing threat of drug-resistant infections.
Addressing gender inequality in AMR
An important example of our advocacy efforts is the contribution to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent report, “Addressing Gender Inequality in Antimicrobial Resistance”. The report highlights how gender inequalities worsen the AMR crisis, and it calls for global action to ensure that AMR solutions include everyone, especially women and marginalised groups who face the biggest barriers to healthcare.
University of Cape Town’s Associate Professor Esmita Charani, who co-leads CAMO-Net South Africa, contributed significantly to the WHO report with her research on the intersection of gender, AMR, and social inequities. Her work highlights how gender inequalities make women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, more vulnerable to AMR. She advocates for gender-sensitive and intersectional policies that not only address gender but also account for factors like poverty, caste, and geography which influence access to healthcare and often cause barriers to treatment of infectious diseases. Through this approach, Associate Professor Charani and CAMO-Net aim to create AMR solutions that are both equitable and inclusive.
Associate Professor Charani said, “It is a step in the right direction to see this comprehensive sweep of existing evidence on how gender inequalities impact spread and impact of antimicrobial resistance in different contexts. I am very pleased to have contributed to this report and for the report to recognise our existing work and research in this topic, particularly the need to adopt an intersectional approach to studying gender and AMR. Gender is not a silo and interacts with other social constructs to determine access to resources and health outcomes. Of note, this report is a milestone in our research roadmap for optimising antibiotic use in human populations that we developed with the Wellcome Trust and speaks to our ongoing research on this topic funded by the Wellcome Trust and WHO TDR.”
Professor Mirfin Mpundu, a member of CAMO-Net’s Scientific Advisory Board, also contributed to the WHO report, highlighting the need for equitable access to antimicrobials, particularly in resource-limited settings like rural areas and informal settlements, where health care services are often inaccessible. Professor Mpundu advocates for global collaboration and tailored interventions to address the structural barriers that worsen the AMR crisis. His work highlights the importance of promoting policies that not only focus on the scientific challenges of antimicrobial resistance but also on the social and economic barriers that prevent effective AMR management.
“This report underscores the importance of addressing both the scientific and structural factors that perpetuate AMR. By recognising the role of gender inequalities, we can begin to build more resilient health systems that are capable of combating AMR on a global scale,” said Prof Mpundu.
Collaborating for Change: The gender and AMR workshop
Another milestone in CAMO-Net’s advocacy efforts was the recent “Gender and Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop” held in Bangalore, India. Funded by the WAAW 2024: Advocating for gender-inclusive solutions to AMR to discuss how these interconnected factors contribute to the spread of AMR and how best to address them. The workshop highlighted the complex relationship between social inequities and the rise of drug-resistant pathogens.
Over the course of two days, discussions focused on how issues such as gender inequality, caste discrimination, and climate change can increase the vulnerability of certain communities to AMR. The workshop also emphasised the need for WAAW 2024: Advocating for gender-inclusive solutions to AMRn AMR policymaking which are all central themes in CAMO-Net’s advocacy for more inclusive AMR solutions.
Building an inclusive path forward
The discussions at the Bangalore workshop marked the beginning of a larger, ongoing effort to tackle AMR through collaborative, intersectional research and advocacy. By focusing on the intersection of gender, climate, and AMR, vulnerable populations, whether defined by gender, caste, geography, or socio-economic status, are given the attention they need in conversations about AMR.
CAMO-Net’s advocacy for vulnerable groups is crucial in ensuring that everyone has access to the essential antimicrobials needed to save lives. And through initiatives like these, we are helping to build a more inclusive response to AMR, one that leaves no one behind.
