National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2022

The National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and Health, outlines strategic policy goals related to AMR for Nigeria in the period of 2017-2022. The aim of the policy is to reduce, prevent and slow the evolution of resistant organisms and their impact on health care while ensuring optimal use and improved access to effective, safe and quality-assured antimicrobials for continued successful management of infections. The plan incorporates the one health approach and aims at implementing proposed actions by strengthening and utilizing existing national systems or by creating new structures where they do not exist. The focus areas are; 1. Increasing awareness and knowledge on AMR and related topics 2. One health AMR surveillance and research 3. Infection Prevention and Control in the tripartite sector 4. Promote rational access to antibiotics and Antimicrobial stewardship 5. Invest in research to quantify the cost of resistance and develop new antimicrobials and diagnostics.This document also details the strategic interventions for each objective, activity, budget and the monitoring/evaluation plan for all activities. Food safety is closely related to AMR and is discussed in terms of promotion of safe food, strengthening regulatory agencies across all sectors in line with the 'one health' approach, food disposal and waste, laboritory capacity for monitoring AMR (food and environment), and supporting the implementation of food safety guidelines at community level.