Youth trained to fight against anti-microbial resistance
Kisakye said the focus has been put on the University youth because they are the young professionals joining the working space.
A youth teaching people how to wash hands with soap and water. (Photos by Agnes Kyotalengerire)
Agnes Kyotalengerire
Journalist @New Vision
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Over 40 youth from various Universities in Uganda have been equipped with skills and knowledge to prevent and fight against waterborne diseases and antimicrobial resistance which has become rampant in Uganda.
The youth hail from Universities such as Makerere, Gulu, Busitema, Kampala International University (KIU) and Equator University from Masaka.
“We are training the youth to be ambassadors and champions in their respective communities in regard to spreading awareness about antimicrobial resistance and how water, sanitation and hygiene can be used to combat this antimicrobial resistance,” said the head of young professionals, Maureen Kisakye.
The president of the Uganda Youth Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship, Dr Edema Fred Otto, described anti-microbial resistance as a phenomenon where medicines fail to work.
He cited the major causes as misuse and overuse of medicines.
AMR burden
A global survey conducted in 2019 found that antimicrobial resistance caused more deaths than HIV and malaria which are also very big health problems. For example, a total of 1·27 million deaths were attributable to AMR and 4·95 million deaths were associated with AMR.
To come close at home, In Uganda, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been predicted to cause about 30,000 deaths annually, and this is predicted to even increase if we do nothing about it.
Why the youth?
Kisakye said the focus has been put on the University youth because they are the young professionals joining the working space.
Antimicrobial resistance University youth champions pose for a group photo.
“We are targeting every medical student because they are key in the diagnosis and treatment of everyone who becomes ill,” Kisakye said.
He said they are empowering the young generation to take charge because they are the future.
As we come towards the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs), youth have come out to advocate for SDG 3, which is good health and well-being, and SDG 6, which talks about clean water and sanitation, he said.
Kisaakye who also doubles as a medical laboratory technologist specializing in Micro Biology said the campaign that has been running for over a month will continue until the year-end-2025.
Funded by Rocket Health at the French Embassy of Kenya, the campaign is being implemented by the Uganda Youth Consortium where a total of over 300 youth have been trained since the roll-out of the National Action Plan on anti-microbial resistance.
It is being implemented in the different suburbs or different areas that are grappling with water, sanitation and hygiene, for example in overcrowded communities, Kisakye noted.
Recently, the AMR youth trainee champions got a chance to visit the slums of Katanga, Kalerwe and Kamyokya where to educate residents about sanitation, hygiene and clean water.
As part of the sensitisation drive, the youth also distributed sanitary kits such as soap, sanitisers andJik and demonstrated how to use them.
The Research Associate Makerere University, School of Public Health Douglas Bulafu noted that one of the key causes of antimicrobial resistance is infections.
“If we reduce infections, we will definitely reduce the reliance on antimicrobials,” Bulafu said.
The population in slums has low education and wealth index levels. So educating them about AMR and also availing them with amenities such as hand washing facilities, and soap or making them involved using a human-centred approach was a timely intervention, he noted.
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