Somalia National Action Plan (NAP) on combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Somalia National Action Plan (NAP) on combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is divided into 5 major parts. The Plan emphasizes the need for a well-defined communication and leadership structure to cover all parts of the country, which is a federation of 5 states and Somaliland. Primarily centered in the central federal state, the Plan underscores the importance of clear governance. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Livestock (MOL) play central roles in hosting the Plan. To ensure widespread coverage, general directors from these ministries will convene meetings with counterparts in other federal states by the Plan's conclusion. The other major parts of the NAP are related to 4 major pillars in the planning for the control of AMR which are awareness, surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC), and proper user of antimicrobials based on the “One Health” approach dealing with AMR in humans and livestock mainly. For each axis, a strategic plan, an operational plan and a monitoring plan.
Regarding AMR awareness, the major targets were to improve the awareness of professionals and public both in the human and livestock health about the dangers of AMR and how it could be controlled. Surveillance is a major pillar; the ultimate aim is to have national data that will be used in planning empiric therapy and identifying priority AMR organisms. The Plan targets increasing the number of labs and hospitals that issue antibiograms for the recovered organisms that cause infections. IPC is another major pillar of any AMR control plan. Empowering IPC in health facilities is a major target of the plan along with increasing the number of qualified professionals in this field. The control of antibiotic quality and the judicious consumption are another major pillar of the NAP.