By: Hannah Dadzie
On Monday 26th September, 2023, UK Deputy High Commissioner, Keith McMahon welcomed Mr Saviour Yevutsey, the Ministry of Health’s National Antimicrobial Resistance coordinator and Head of the Drug Policy Unit, representing the Minister of Health, along with representatives from the Fleming Fund and other global health organisations to celebrate the important work the UK and Ghana are doing together to tackle drug resistant infections.
The Fleming Fund is the single largest investment in global AMR surveillance.
This UK aid programme, led by the Department of Health and Social Care, is partnering with countries in Africa, Asia and global organisations to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
AMR is already a leading public health threat across the world, responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.27 million people in 2019.
The Fleming Fund has been working with the Ministries of Health and Agriculture since 2018 to help accelerate Ghana’s own plans for addressing drug resistance.
The meeting reviewed how the Fleming Fund partners will continue to work jointly with Ghana to support state-of-the-art laboratories, cutting edge disease surveillance systems and a bigger global workforce better trained in AMR.
“The fight against drug resistance is a battle we cannot afford to lose. It is a battle that requires unity, resolve, and a shared commitment to the well-being of all our global citizens.
The Fleming Fund represents the coming together of over 20 countries joined by a common goal to preserve the efficacy of our medicines and ensuring a healthier and more prosperous future.”
The Deputy High Commissioner, Keith McMahon said: “As a country Ghana, we have experienced the positive impact of the Fleming Fund intervention in the area of antimicrobial resistance. This support is helping us curb and control resistance development and spread in the country by generating evidence to make policy decisions. We are grateful to the UK government for providing funds through the Fleming Fund to help countries including Ghana implement the National Action Plans on Antimicrobial Resistance” Mr Yevutsey said.
Background
The reception at the British High Commissioner’s Residence brought together senior representatives from Ghana’s Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, UK Department of Health and Social care, UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, WHO, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), University of Oxford, Commonwealth Pharmacists Association, Tropical Health Education Trust and Mott MacDonald.
