The COMBAT AMR in Africa Network is a partnership project currently involving six German specialist departments for infectious diseases\/tropical medicine at public university hospitals and their long-standing partner institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.
The overarching objectives of the COMBAT AMR in Africa Network are: conduct quality, multi-centre monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR); facilitate knowledge transfer, and promote cooperation in the implementation of regional and local strategies for combating the spread of AMR, incorporating aspects of One Health in the process. The network will serve as a pioneering project with an impact on the surrounding locations of the partner institutions. Providing systematic support for the South-South cooperation arrangements and training researchers from partner locations are key aspects of the network.
Participating partner organisations:
-\tDüsseldorf University Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases
-\tLudwig Maximilians Universität Munich, Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine
-\tUniversity Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
-\tBernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine
-\tGoethe University Frankfurt, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine
-\tCharité Berlin, Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health
-\tUniversity of Leipzig Medical Center, Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine
-\tAsella Referral and Teaching Hospital, Arsi University, Asella, Ethiopia
-\tJimma University Hospital, Jimma University, Ethiopia
-\tGhana: Medical School, KNUST and KCCR, Kumasi
-\tKenyatta National Hospital, University of Nairobi, Kenya
-\tUniversité National du Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda
-\tKiruddu National Referral Hospital, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Context:
The network was set up in 2016 to combine the strengths of its members on working to combat the spread of AMR in sub-Saharan Africa. It focuses on strengthening microbial routine diagnostics and establishing AMR monitoring to generate data sources for policy-makers.
The activities in this proposed project phase serve to consolidate and sustainably position the network. To this end, it is necessary to establish a coordination structure for the network at Düsseldorf University Hospital’s Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases.
Activities:
-\tEducation
-\tJoint research
-\tNetwork management and sustainability
Results:
The funds requested for this project will be used to continue and step up the activities in the field of AMR. The COMBAT AMR in Africa Network will also be consolidated and positioned, having already been carrying out its work for several years and being actively engaged in both research and training. The funding period will be used to acquire additional finance for research projects and follow-on financing for the network on the basis of previous results and achievements. The partnership will also be expanded to include at least one additional partner organisation.