NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (NAP-AMR) 2024–2028

A Plan combats antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria through surveillance, stewardship, and public awareness across health, veterinary, and agricultural sectors. It targets healthcare providers, farmers, and the general public to ensure responsible antibiotic use. This aims to reduce drug-resistant infections and strengthen health security.

What Is This Policy?

The NAP-AMR 2024–2028 is Nigeria’s strategic roadmap to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It integrates surveillance, stewardship, infection prevention, and public awareness across human health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, and the environment.

Who Does It Target?

The plan is directed at healthcare providers, veterinarians, farmers, pharmaceutical industries, and environmental regulators. It also targets communities and the general public, emphasizing responsible use of antibiotics. Development partners (WHO, FAO, OIE, UNEP) and donors are key stakeholders, as AMR is a global health security issue.

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

The central objective is to reduce the burden of drug-resistant infections in Nigeria. It seeks to strengthen surveillance systems, promote rational use of antimicrobials, and improve infection prevention and control. The plan also aims to foster research, innovation, and public awareness, ensuring Nigeria contributes to global AMR containment.

Key Features

• One Health approach: Integration of human, animal, and environmental health. • Surveillance systems: Strengthening labs and data reporting. • Antimicrobial stewardship: Promoting rational use in hospitals and farms. • Infection prevention and control (IPC): Expanding hygiene and sanitation programs. • Public awareness campaigns: Educating citizens on responsible antibiotic use. • Research and innovation: Supporting new diagnostics, vaccines, and alternatives

Current Status

Rollout Stage: active Coverage: applies nationwide Funding: Federal allocations, WHO support, donor contributions.

How to Access

WHO Publication (2024): “Nigeria: Second One Health AMR National Action Plan 2024–2028” (125 pages). Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare: https://health.gov.ng Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security: https://fmafs.gov.ng Federal Ministry of Environment: (environment.gov.ng in Bing)

Important Terms

Term 1- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The ability of microbes (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) to resist drugs designed to kill them, making infections harder to treat. Term 2- Infection Prevention and Control (IPC): Measures such as hand hygiene, sanitation, and vaccination to reduce the spread of resistant infections.

Official Resources

Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare: https://health.gov.ng National AMR Secretariat (One Health): Abuja. Email: [email protected] Phone: +234 (0)9 234 0940 Link to document- https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/a-future-for-children/nigeria-amr-national-action-plan.pdf?sfvrsn=153f003d_1&download=true

Legal Framework

The National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) operates under the National Health Act 2014, the NAFDAC Act (on antibiotic regulation and dispensing), and the Veterinary Surgeons Act. It aligns with the WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2015, the Tripartite (WHO/FAO/OIE) One Health approach to AMR, and the SDG 3.3 target on combating infectious diseases. The Food and Agriculture Organization AMR guidelines cover the agricultural sector component.