Zimbabwe builds the capacity to manage antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance data

Surveillance is a vital tool to provide crucial information that shapes the public health interventions. Sturdy information management systems are crucial for analysing and managing data from multisector antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance systems. With funding from the Fleming Fund, at least 14 laboratories across Zimbabwe were capacitated to generate AMR surveillance data. These include five veterinary laboratories, seven for human health, one dedicated towards food and one environment. Building on this momentum, the World Health Organization (WHO) trained 60 training of trainers (ToTs) from the Ministries of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development (MoLAFWRD) and Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry (METHI).

The training conducted from 29 August to 2 September 2022, introduced WHONET software, an essential data tool developed for the management and analysis of microbiology laboratory data with a special focus on the analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility test results.

The tool is paramount for enhancing the use of surveillance data for local needs and for promoting collaborations and data sharing at the national (District Health Information System 2), regional and global levels https://www.afro.who.int/countries/zimbabwe/news/zimbabwe-builds-capacity-manage-antimicrobial-resistance-amr-surveillance-data