Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – August 15, 2024: A dire warning has been issued by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in a groundbreaking report that places antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as the continent’s most lethal health crisis. “The continent faces the highest mortality rate from antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with 27.3 deaths per 100,000—exceeding the combined death toll from HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria,” the report starkly reveals, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Africa, already burdened by infectious diseases, is now grappling with a new, insidious threat. The report details that Africa accounts for 95% of global malaria deaths, 70% of HIV cases, and 25% of tuberculosis fatalities. However, AMR has emerged as a greater danger, quietly claiming more lives than these three diseases combined. Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Deputy Director General of the Africa CDC, did not mince words: “We must not ignore this silent threat that disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable among us.”
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the drugs designed to kill them. This resistance is accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in healthcare, agriculture, and food systems. “This renders antibiotics and other antimicrobials less effective, leading to treatment failures, increased disease spread, severe illness, disability, and higher mortality rates,” the report warns.
The financial response to AMR in Africa is grossly inadequate. Despite estimates that an effective AMR response would require USD 2-6 billion annually, current funding is only a fraction of that allocated to other major diseases. “This underfunding makes AMR a significant barrier to sustainable development, hindering progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” Dr. Tajudeen explained.
The report predicts a grim future if immediate action is not taken. Globally, 700,000 people die annually from drug-resistant infections. By 2050, this number could soar to 10 million, with Africa bearing nearly half of those deaths.
The report’s findings were a focal point of the discussions initiated at Africa CDC headquarters, aiming to develop a roadmap to combat AMR. Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of the African Union-Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), highlighted the multi-sectoral impact of AMR, emphasizing its threat to “agrifood systems, food safety, food security, livelihoods, and economies.”
By 2050, global healthcare costs could exceed USD 1 trillion annually, and livestock production could decline by up to 7.5% due to AMR. Dr. Salih pointed out that “In Africa, the situation is particularly alarming, with 37 countries reporting the prevalence of AMR in animal farms, yet only 16% of African countries are conducting routine AMR surveillance in animals as of 2023.”
Both Dr. Salih and Dr. Tajudeen stressed the need for urgent action to strengthen leadership, expand surveillance systems, promote the responsible use of antimicrobials, and secure sustainable financing to combat AMR effectively. “Unless we work together, overcoming antimicrobial resistance will be a difficult and long-drawn process that will cost lives,” Dr. Tajudeen warned.
The report also highlights a critical gap in laboratory capacity across Africa. According to a study by Africa CDC and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine, only 1.3% of microbiology labs in 14 member states can test for key AMR pathogens. Mr. Nqobile Ndlovu, head of the African Society for Laboratory Medicine, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to “strengthening African laboratory capacities to combat antimicrobial resistance.”
The African Union’s roadmap on AMR outlines several priorities: infection prevention, health and food systems strengthening, human resource development, and sustainable access to diagnostics and therapeutics. The report also recommends increasing the availability of high-quality diagnostics, vaccines, and antimicrobials for high-priority pathogens in high-risk African countries.
As the world prepares for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting in September, Africa’s battle against AMR stands as a stark reminder that global action is needed now more than ever. “Our health, our food, and our future depend on the actions we take now,” Dr. Salih concluded, echoing the urgent call for immediate and concerted efforts to tackle this escalating crisis.
