Eritrean National Action Plan for combating Antimicrobial Resistance 2021-2025.

This National Action Plan for combating Antimicrobial Resistance is a 5-year nationwide multi-sectoral document aiming at containing the increasing trend of AMR in the country and contribute to the ongoing global initiative on AMR. It has the following 5 strategic objectives in line with Global Action Plan (i) improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication and training; (ii) strengthen the knowledge and evidence base through surveillance and research; (iii) reduce the incidence of infection through effective sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention measures; (iv) optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines in human, animal, and plant health.; and (v) develop the economic case for sustainable investment that takes account of the needs of Eritrea, and increase investment in new medicines.
In order to make agriculture and fisheries more productive and sustainable, the main interventions related to antimicrobials are (i) revise and incorporate AMR and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) into the curricula of Agriculture colleges; (ii) develop training manual on AMR and IPC to be used in continuing education of veterinary workers as well as plant and fishery professionals; (iii) develop guidelines on the use of antimicrobial agents in agriculture and fisheries; (iv) develop a guideline for the implementation of appropriate response measures to limit transmission in the event of the emergence of zoonotic diseases with the potential of transmission to human beings; (v) strengthen vaccination programs in animal health; (vi) strengthen good husbandry practices and biosecurity interventions in animal husbandry, plant, and fishery sectors; (vii) strengthen waste management systems in the agriculture sector; (viii) promote hygienic practices in animal, plant and fishery sectors.
To increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the main interventions proposed are (i) establish an integrated national surveillance system on AMR for all sectors; (ii) build capacity in designated national laboratories to produce high-quality microbiological data for patient management, food, feed, environmental safety, and surveillance support activities in health, agriculture and environment sectors; (iii) strengthen research capacity to prevent and contain AMR in human, animal and environmental health; (iv) develop and implement protocols to combat hospital-acquired infections; (v) strengthen vaccination programs in human and animal health; (vi) strengthen waste management systems in the health, agriculture, and environment sectors and communities.
As for Governance, it is considered necessary to strengthen antimicrobial governance for appropriate use of antimicrobials in health care settings and communities by (i) developing/revising the standard list of medicines, treatment guidelines, and formulary in hospitals; (ii) establishing a mechanism and tools to monitor appropriate use of antimicrobials in health settings, veterinary practice, livestock production, agriculture, and fisheries; (iii) conducting regular supervision of antimicrobial use and prescription habits by human and animal health professionals.