Strategy for the Prevention and Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance for Ethiopia.

Strategy for the Prevention and Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance for Ethiopia is a cross-sectoral policy document at the national level for the period from 2015-2020. The goal of the Strategy is to prevent, slow down, and contain the spread of AMR through the continuous availability of safe, effective, and quality-assured antimicrobials and their effective use thereof.
The five strategic objectives are: Raise awareness and understanding and improve education on antimicrobial use, resistance prevention, and containment through effective communication and training; Strengthen the knowledge and evidence on antimicrobial use and resistance through onehealth surveillance and research; Improve infection prevention and contain the spread of resistant microorganisms across human and animal communities and health care settings through individual and environmental sanitation, hygiene, and infection prevention measures; Optimize the use of antimicrobials in human and animal health through effective stewardship practices; Strengthen and establish national alliances and partnerships, management and governance arrangements, and resource mobilizations for the prevention and containment of AMR at all levels. To achieve the overall goal and the strategic objectives, the priority actions are identified. Under the strategic objective 4, the priority actions to be implemented include: Ensure access to essential antimicrobials for therapeutic use and vaccines to prevent diseases and minimize the use of antimicrobials; Work closely with industries involved in animal husbandry and restrict non-therapeutic use of antimicrobials; Eliminate the use of human health care antimicrobials as growth promoters and feed additives in animals; Strengthen regulations for the food industry, including reviewing standards for animal products and setting clear specifications; Ensure the availability and monitoring the use of and adherence to evidence-based guidelines and job aids, etc.