National Action Plan on Prevention and containment of Antimicrobial Resistance 2019 - 2023.

This NAP is a nationwide sectoral document, aligned with WHO five objectives, aiming at reaching the main goal of "one health" approach for strengthening systems to counter infectious diseases and related issues that threaten human, animal, and environmental health. The NAP is structured around 14 main objectives covering six areas of interest (1) Awareness, education and behavioral change; (2) Surveillance and laboratories capacity; (3) Infection Prevention, hygiene and sanitation; (4) Rational use of antimicrobial; (5) AMR in Migrants; and (6) Research. The 14 main objectives are (i) increase national awareness of AMR among target groups within 5 years up to 85%; (ii) improve knowledge on AMR and related topics; (iii) enhance behavior change towards better use of Antimicrobial medications; (iv) set up a national surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance; (v) build laboratory capacity to produce high-quality microbiological data for patient management and support surveillance activities in both human and animal sectors; (vi) identify research priorities for AMR surveillance; (vii) strengthening the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) program in Libya; (viii) establishing bio-security (hygienic practices) in veterinary settings and animal husbandry, health food industry and agriculture; (ix) sanitation and hygiene at community level; (x) sanitation and hygiene at migrants’ camps; (xi) ensure sustainable access to high quality antimicrobial medicines; (xii) ensure appropriate use of antimicrobial agents in human; (xiii) improve and ensure appropriate use of antimicrobial in animals; and (xiv) establish the national surveillance system for antimicrobial use and consumption.
To make agriculture more productive and sustainable, several interventions are suggested, such as (i) support, train and building the capacity of the veterinarians, veterinary technicians, farmers, animal breeders on AMR including knowledge and communication skills; (ii) conducting an awareness campaign for the farmers; (iii) promote the use of healthy alternative for animal weight gross such as food supplements; (iv) establish bio-security committee at veterinary settings level and animal husbandry, health food industry and agriculture; and (v) improve access to safe and usable water.
As for the Governance, the document envisages a national governance mechanism for coordinating the efforts to combat AMR. The latter must be constituted by (i) a National multi-sectoral Steering Committee (NSC) to oversee activities, which needs political support, authority to act, and dedicated funds; (ii) AMR Coordination Committee (ACC) to coordinate AMR-related activities in all sectors to ensure a systematic, comprehensive approach; (iii) a national AMR focal point to coordinate AMR activities and tasks in the health sector; (iv) AMR Surveillance Unit (ASU) to oversee the development and functioning of the national AMR surveillance system.