Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious threat to global health, transcending borders and demanding an international response. There is an urgent need for collaboration between scientists working in human, animal, and environmental health sectors to support the acceleration of genomic surveillance.
To address this challenge, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), and Wellcome Connecting Science (WCS), UK, co-organised the first symposium focused on implementing Genomics for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance and One Health. Together, we hosted over 100 scientists from 28 countries, united in their commitment to tackle AMR through the deployment of genomics-led solutions. Scientists were selected from over 1000 applications, demonstrating the appetite for this kind of training.
Scheduled to begin the day after our Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens course finished, the symposium was designed to provide an environment for trainees to build upon the momentum developed during their training. Over 50 course participants, representing 20 African countries, joined the symposium to explore real-world application of their newly acquired skills and knowledge, to support public health decision making.
Initiatives that support the translation of knowledge and technical ability into real work scenarios, tailored to regional populations, are vitally important to enhance global AMR efforts. The symposium that followed the training course, was designed to cultivate a robust pool of expertise in genomics-based AMR surveillance, and foster data-sharing initiatives across the African continent. During the event, delegates shared their perspectives on the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling AMR and strengthening genomics capacity.
