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State of antibiotic resistance in Africa – featuring Jimmy Nkaiwuatei

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The past 100 years have seen a huge boost in quality of life. Antibiotics have played a big role in this development. They have acted as valuable tools in clearing microbial infections and helped ensure hygiene for people all over the world. However, antibiotic resistance (AMR) is threatening this progress. By 2050, we could see as many as 10 million people die because of microbes resistant to antibiotic treatment. The grim predictions that the WHO has set have led people to call upon the situation as an AMR crisis.

Africa, especially the Sub-Saharan region, has already been highly affected by AMR. 27.3 deaths for every 100,000 people are directly associated with bacterial AMR across all age groups in Africa. Worse yet, these values could be underestimated as AMR data in Africa continues to be underreported. Should this remain, Africa will be set to continue receiving a greater burden from it compared with other parts of the world.

What makes the AMR crisis harsher in Africa compared to other regions of the globe? What is causing the AMR crisis to occur at a higher rate in Africa compared to other parts of the world? And how can Africans prepare themselves in the fight against AMR infections? These are the questions we will cover in today’s article.

AMR Crisis – What makes Africa unique?

In Africa, the effects of AMR have been so huge due to several factors such as lack of access to quality medicines, inefficient equipment in diagnostic laboratories, and many more. The growth of AMR has not only worsened the infections brought about by the various pathogens but also other health, social and economic issues associated with microbial infections. While many of the following diseases have substantial impacts on other geographical regions, they have proven to be particularly destructive across Africa.

AMR Crisis – Causes

Many factors play big roles in AMR spread within Africa. For one, we regularly see antibiotic misuse when the wrong antibiotics are prescribed to a patient. AMR can also spread when antibiotics are provided but not needed at all. The high poverty rates and poor infrastructure across the continent also make healthcare difficult to access, along with poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. When combined with inadequate knowledge and awareness of AMR by the public and the absence of political support, AMR becomes easier to spread across the continent.

AMR Crisis – Calls to action and how Students Against Superbugs heeds the call

In response to these issues, organizations across Africa are also taking up the call to address the AMR crisis. Students Against Superbugs (SAS) stands tall among these efforts. SAS is a student-driven initiative that aims to empower tertiary-level students across Africa to become active champions against AMR. They accomplish this in three different ways:

Conclusions

Antimicrobial resistance is a major concern worldwide, but nowhere is this concern more palpable and substantive than in Africa. Deaths by AMR infections could number millions by 2050 if left untreated. Many pathogens and factors play into the burgeoning crisis, but that does not mean nothing can be done to curb the tide. Organizations such as SAS and many more are working hard to raise awareness among the general public, promote AMR research, and improve surveillance and hygiene efforts. With more efforts like these, the AMR crisis can be averted not only in Africa but the world at large.

Authors

  • Paul Naphtali is the founder of GenoWrite, a life sciences communications company. He holds an MSc in Biology and went through the PhD program in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, both at McMaster University. Before GenoWrite, he created Microbe Musings out of a passion for communicating microbiology research to diverse audiences around the globe and from all walks of life.

  • Jimmy is a biochemist by profession and a passionate health science researcher. He holds a great interest in drugs/vaccines research and design, as well as infectious diseases with a particular focus on antimicrobial resistance. He is a skilled bioinformatician and a science communicator, serving as the Head of Research, Discovery and Innovations at Students Against Superbugs (SAS) Africa and a Research Scientist and Editor at Future African Scientists (FAS). He is also the student advisor and Ambassador to Africa in Science (AiS).

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