The African One Health Network for Disease Prevention (ADAPT) project held stakeholder engagement on 30th August 2024 at the Engineering Gust House, KNUST to discuss Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship (AMR/AMS) and introduce the ADAPT project. The event aimed to foster collaboration among researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers, ensuring collective efforts toward addressing AMR.
The Key stakeholders present in the meeting were Prof. Richard Phillips – Scientific Director, KCCR-KNUST, Dr. Emmanuel Teviu – Deputy Director, Public Health, Ghana Health Service (Ashanti Region), Dr Charity Wiafe Akenten – Head of the One Health Bacteriology Group at KCCR-KNUST, Mrs. Charlotte Hansen – Manager, Public Health Reference Laboratory, Ashanti regional Hospital, Mr. Samuel Owusu-Sekyere – AFREhealth, KNUST and Dr. Carl Max Apolala – Veterinarian, Kumasi Abattoir.
The event was moderated by Dr. Yaw Amoako, Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI), who emphasized the importance of a One Health approach in tackling AMR. He stressed the need for collective action in surveillance and responsible antimicrobial use, drawing attention to common scenarios of misuse, such as improper food handling and self-medication. He also referenced Ghanaian policies aimed at addressing AMR.
Dr. Michael Frimpong, the Principal Investigator, introduced the ADAPT project, as part of the Research Networks for Health in sub-Saharan Africa (RHISSA). He explained that ADAPT is aligned with the One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022-2026) and focuses on communication, collaboration, coordination, and capacity building. ADAPT is working to bridge the gap between research and policy, train future researchers, and develop cost-effective diagnostic tools for AMR surveillance.
Dr. Emmanuel Teviu praised ADAPT for its role in connecting science and policy, highlighting its potential to significantly advance implementation science. He reaffirmed the Ghana Health Service’s commitment to partnering with stakeholders and stressed the importance of addressing the social determinants of AMR. Dr. Teviu invited the ADAPT team to participate in the annual medical practitioners’ meeting and pledged the regional health directorate’s strong support.
A representative for AFREhealth, Mr. Samuel Owusu-Sekyere also expressed their dedication to collaborating with research institutions like KCCR, reaffirming their strong support for the ADAPT-KCCR project.
The engagement demonstrated a strong commitment from policymakers, public health professionals, and academic stakeholders. Collaboration in addressing AMR and strengthening regional health systems emerged as key themes of the event, with stakeholders expressing optimism about future partnerships under the ADAPT initiative.
