Zambia Moves to Strengthen Legislative Role in Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), through its Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinating Committee (AMRCC) in collaboration with ReAct, held a landmark meeting with 15 members of Parliament (MPs) representing Committees on Health and Agriculture. The meeting aimed to strengthen Zambia’s response to the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), building on the outcomes of the United Nations High-Level Meeting on AMR held in New York in September.
15 parliamentarians joined the ground breaking meeting in Lusaka, Zambia. Photo: ReActThe key objective of the meeting was to engage Zambia’s legislators in AMR mitigation efforts by enhancing their capacity to develop policies, advocate for sustainable AMR initiatives, and promote a One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, agriculture, and environmental sectors.
Recognizing the critical role of lawmakers in influencing national priorities, the parliamentarians emphasised the need for continuous awareness about AMR. They expressed a desire for more accessible and simplified information to communicate the urgency of AMR to their constituencies and fellow legislators. Furthermore, the parliamentarians proposed the formation of a broader network beyond the health and agriculture committees to amplify their voices in the fight against AMR both within Zambia and at the regional level.
The Ministry of Health in Zambia has been working to promote Rational Use of Medicines countrywide, recognizing AMR as a significant threat to public health.
“By orienting parliamentarians on Rational Medicine Use, the Ministry can strengthen its response to this critical issue, ultimately saving lives, protecting public health and reduce cost on medicines budgets”. Kandandu Chibosha. Chief Pharmacist – Rational Medicine Use, Ministry of Health Zambia.
Key Takeaways from the Meeting:
Capacity Building for Lawmakers: Parliamentarians need more education on the global and local burden of AMR, especially given that 4.95 million people globally died from drug-resistant infections in 2019, with 1.27 million directly attributed to AMR.
Advocacy and Awareness: MPs play a crucial role in advocating for and allocating resources across sectors. Raising awareness among lawmakers is essential for the successful implementation of Zambia’s National Action Plan on AMR.
A One Health Approach: The need for collaboration across human, animal, agriculture, and environmental sectors was underscored as critical in combating AMR.
Informed Policy Decisions: Lawmakers require the right information to make informed decisions about legislation and resource allocation to support Zambia’s efforts against AMR.
Promoting Advocacy and Resource Mobilization: Parliamentarians were encouraged to champion AMR awareness and advocate for sufficient resources to implement the National Action Plan.
“By building their capacity and fostering collaboration across sectors, we can ensure that AMR remains a national priority, driving policy change and resource allocation to protect the health of our people, animals, and environment.”- Dr Joseph Chizimu, Zambia National AMR Focal Point
Next Steps:
The formation of a regional caucus of African parliamentarians was proposed to raise awareness and push for local funding to prioritize AMR mitigation across the continent.
This stakeholder meeting marks a significant step in galvanizing political will to tackle AMR, ensuring that policymakers have the tools and knowledge to advocate for necessary resources and legislative support in Zambia and beyond.
“This meeting is a crucial step in empowering our lawmakers to take informed action against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance”. Dr Rapheal Chanda, Acting Executive Director, ReAct Africa.
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