Lagos, Nigeria – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has released a sobering report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), highlighting a severe crisis in the continent’s healthcare system. Launched on Thursday at the Africa CDC headquarters, the African Union Landmark Report reveals that Africa has the highest mortality rate from AMR globally, with 27.3 deaths per 100,000 people, surpassing the combined death toll from HIV-AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria.
The report underscores the continent’s struggle with infectious diseases, with Africa accounting for around 95% of global malaria deaths, 70% of people living with HIV, and 25% of TB deaths. The alarming rise in AMR, exacerbated by the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial drugs in healthcare, agriculture, and food systems, threatens to undermine progress in combating these diseases.
Africa CDC Deputy Director-General Dr. Raji Tajudeen emphasized the urgency of addressing this silent threat. “We must not ignore this silent threat that disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable among us,” Dr. Tajudeen stated. The report warns that without immediate and effective intervention, the number of global deaths from drug-resistant infections, currently estimated at 700,000 annually, could surge to 10 million by 2050, with Africa accounting for 4.5 million of these deaths.
The financial gap in combating AMR is significant, with an estimated $2.6 billion needed annually for an effective response across Africa. However, current funding is only a tenth of that allocated to major diseases, posing a considerable barrier to sustainable development and hindering progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of the African Union-Inter African Bureau for Animal Resources, highlighted the broader implications of AMR, including threats to agrifood systems, food safety, and economies. “Antimicrobial resistance is not just a health issue—it is a threat to our agrifood systems, food security, livelihoods, and economies,” she warned.
The report also notes that by 2050, global healthcare costs related to AMR could exceed $1 trillion annually, and livestock production might decline by up to 7.5% per year. In Africa, 37 countries report AMR prevalence in animal farms, yet only 16% of countries conduct routine AMR surveillance in animals.
Dr. Salih called for urgent action to bolster leadership, expand surveillance and data systems, promote responsible antimicrobial use, and secure sustainable financing. “Our health, our food, and our future depend on the actions we take now,” she stressed.
Dr. Tajudeen urged a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to tackle AMR. “Unless we work together, overcoming antimicrobial resistance will be a difficult and long-drawn process that will cost lives,” he cautioned.
Currently, millions in Africa lack access to essential antibiotics, and only 1.3% of microbiology labs in 14 member states can test for key AMR pathogens, according to a study by the Africa CDC and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine. Mr. Nqobile Ndlovu, head of the African Society for Laboratory Medicine, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to enhancing laboratory capacities across the continent.
The report advocates for increased availability of high-quality diagnostics, vaccines, and antimicrobials, particularly in high-risk countries, as a crucial step toward effectively combating AMR and safeguarding public health in Africa.
