COMBAT-AMR works in partnership with government, National AMR Committees and public health counterparts in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, to implement capacity building and training activities to support the prevention, diagnosis, surveillance and management of AMR pathogens, under the framework of National AMR Action Plans and priorities. COMBAT-AMR is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the ability of microorganisms to resist being killed by medicines such as antibiotics, poses a major and rapidly growing threat to the prevention and treatment of infections and to public health globally.
AMR is a growing threat in Pacific Island Countries. Understanding the nature and spread of AMR is dependent upon the ability to collect and interpret quality data to support clinical management, establish and contribute to meaningful surveillance and to inform public health responses. The impact of AMR is disproportionate in low-income and middle-income countries due to a higher burden of infections, reduced laboratory infrastructure for pathogen surveillance and diagnostics and limited regulation on the use of antimicrobials amongst humans and animals.
COMBAT-AMR will deliver a program of work during 2019 – 2022 at major national sites, including referral hospitals and laboratories, across four key themes.
COMBAT-AMR will improve Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) by establishing best practice policies, procedures and systems for monitoring selected healthcare associated infections through training and mentoring.
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COMBAT-AMR will provide training and mentorship to build capacity for improved measurement and ongoing monitoring of the appropriateness of antibiotic use, as well as the capability to manage antimicrobial stewardship and respond to emerging issues.
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COMBAT-AMR will improve capacity for laboratory surveillance of antimicrobial resistance through training and mentoring activities to detect AMR in an accurate and timely manner, to undertake surveillance of WHO AMR priority pathogens, and to establish efficient referral pathways for AMR pathogens.
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COMBAT-AMR will help mitigate the threat of antimicrobial resistance arising using a One Health approach, by assessing current practices, policies, procedures and systems for monitoring and controlling antimicrobial resistance in animal health and developing approaches to address needs through training and mentoring.
