Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains one of the world’s most pressing public health challenges, and Zambia continues to strengthen its national response through #research, innovation, and multisectoral collaboration.

 As part of these ongoing efforts, the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) participated in the 2025 World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW2025).

One of the key activities during the week was the One Health Scientific Symposium held in Mansa, Luapula Province, which served as a vital platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, showcase innovations, and share progress in combating AMR.

Among the notable contributions was a presentation on the Optimising Antibiotic Use (OPTAMR) project by CIDRZ, which is spearheading efforts to strengthen Antibiotic Stewardship and improve the management of childhood #febrile illnesses.

Michelo Simuyandi, a Senior Research Scientist in the Basic Science and Immunology Department and a co-investigator on OPT-AMR, delivered a comprehensive update on the project’s progress, achievements, and upcoming milestones, reinforcing the importance of evidence-based solutions in advancing Global Health and Public Health efforts.

He explained that the project is advancing towards a phase characterised by intensive stakeholder engagement, including the review of baseline findings and the co-development of context-specific interventions.

 This participatory approach, he emphasised, is essential because sustainable solutions to AMR require communities, clinicians, policymakers, and implementers to work collectively.

Mr Simuyandi reviewed that the OPT-AMR project incorporates several innovative components that distinguish it within Zambia’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) response landscape. He explained that the project seeks to establish a rapid and recurrent surveillance system to monitor antibiotic use (ABU) and AMR prevalence.

In addition, Mr Simuyandi highlighted that OPT-AMR is investigating community-level drivers of antibiotic use, such as socio-cultural beliefs, access to medicines, and household decision-making behaviours. He noted that these insights will guide the development of interventions that are relevant and acceptable to local communities. Genomic analysis of nasal and rectal samples is also underway to better understand and predict AMR risks in children, adding scientific depth that strengthens the project’s ability to inform national policy.

A central feature of the project, according to Mr Simuyandi, is its commitment to co-creating solutions with the communities it serves. He emphasised that through citizen report cards, community dissemination meetings, and participatory feedback platforms, OPT-AMR ensures interventions are inclusive, context-appropriate, and community-owned. These interventions will be followed by repeated measurements to assess their effectiveness in shifting antibiotic use patterns and reducing AMR risk.

In conclusion, Mr Simuyandi stated that the presentation of the OPT-AMR project at the 2025 WAAW Scientific Symposium reaffirmed Zambia’s dedication to addressing AMR through evidence-driven and community-centred approaches. He added that with its integrated surveillance system, genomic research, and collaborative intervention design, OPT-AMR represents a modern and locally responsive strategy for reducing AMR. As the project moves into its next operational phase, continued support and active participation from all stakeholders will be essential to strengthening Zambia’s health systems and safeguarding the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations.