AFREhealth is a key partner in a consortium of eight institutions implementing the ADAPT Project, a multi-country initiative across seven sub-Saharan African nations. Funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research through Leipzig University, the project aims to build sustainable capacity for Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and the management of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) using a One Health approach. The project will run through December 2028.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces a high burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a major global health threat—compounded by challenges in managing co-infections involving NTDs and drug-resistant bacteria. The ADAPT Project addresses these issues through six core work packages (WP):
- - WP 1: Establishment of a One Health Surveillance System of AMR in sub-Saharan Africa
- - WP 2: Identification of co-infection of NTDs and drug-resistant bacteria
- - WP 3: Development of Capacities for Point of Need Diagnostics of AMR/NTDs
- - WP 4: Identification of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of antimicrobials and AMS in Sub-Saharan Africa
- - WP 5: Establishing hygienic practices at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface
- - WP 6: Building Capacity for Leadership in AMR Stewardship
AFREhealth will play a central role in coordinating and disseminating AMS training programs across all participating countries. These trainings, conducted in English, French, and local languages, will target health professionals, administrators, policymakers, farmers, and community members. Designed to be context-specific and sustainable, the training will incorporate train-the-trainer models, as well as components on digital health and mHealth leadership to strengthen AMR surveillance and data-sharing systems.
By fostering local ownership, leveraging multidisciplinary expertise, and promoting long-term capacity building, AFREhealth’s contribution will ensure that AMS efforts continue to evolve and endure beyond the life of the project.
