Online Reporter
Belindah Chikandiwa
Zimpapers Reporter
THE World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week conference kicked off in Harare yesterday with a powerful call to action, as international and local experts warned that the “silent pandemic” of drug-resistant microbes requires a radical shift in strategy to save modern medicine.
Held under the theme “Evidence, Innovation, Action,” the conference’s opening day saw packed sessions where speakers dissected the complex science of AMR and, crucially, debated how to translate it into tangible change for farmers, patients and policymakers.
Dr Tapfumanei Mashe, the World Health Organisation’s AMR Project Coordinator, delivered a presentation that cut to the heart of the communication challenge. He argued that conventional heavy messages have failed to resonate with the public.
“The question I want to ask is, if you bring someone from outside to listen to what we are going to discuss, will they understand it?” Dr Mashe posed to the delegates.
“Unfortunately, even some of the professionals don’t really understand the subject itself.”
Dr Mashe challenged common misconceptions, clarifying that “microbes develop resistance, not humans,” and emphasised that AMR is a broader threat encompassing not just bacteria, but also drug-resistant HIV, malaria and fungal infections.
His proposed solution was a “known-to-unknown communication strategy,” which frames the complex issue of AMR within familiar contexts. He gave the example of livestock farmers who understand the need to rotate chemicals in cattle dip to kill ticks, but do not understand that this same principle of overuse and under-dosing drives antimicrobial resistance.
“We talk less about AMR, but the actions that these farmers are taking reduces their use of antibiotics,” he said, advocating for a message that connects with people’s lived experiences.
Echoing this call for a paradigm shift was Mr Mark Obonyo, a Regional AMR Coordinator. He starkly stated that awareness campaigns alone are not enough to change behaviour, especially among those whose livelihoods are at stake.
“You think [a farmer] cares about AMR? They don’t care. They want to make profits,” Mr Obonyo said.
“Their concern is, am I going to get some money out of it? Can I use this money to pay school fees for my kids?”
He detailed successful programmes that focus on good farming practices like installing footbaths to prevent disease which indirectly reduce antibiotic use and protect profits, this behavioural change approach, he said, is more effective than leading with the technical term “AMR.”
The conference also highlighted national efforts, with Mr Obonyo singling out Zimbabwe as a “beacon” for its high-level political support and multi-sectoral work on AMR.
The first day was not all about dialogue; it also showcased action. Exhibitions from key national bodies, including the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), and the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (“Your Lab”), demonstrated the country’s ongoing work in regulation, surveillance and diagnostics in the fight against AMR.
The discussions set a sober yet determined tone for the week, framing AMR not just as a scientific puzzle, but as a societal challenge demanding innovative communication and immediate, collective action from all sectors.
