Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship
It is crucial that the high-quality data that is produced is used effectively in clinical practice to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The Fleming Fund recognises the importance of strong antimicrobial stewardship practices in the fight against AMR. The Commonwealth Partnerships for antimicrobial stewardship (CwPAMS) scheme funds health partnerships – existing or new – between the UK’s NHS Trusts and health institutions with their counterparts in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria. These partnerships undertake projects that aim to improve antimicrobial stewardship practices in-country.
A total of 12 partnerships have been selected across the 8 participating countries.
Global Health Partnerships (formerly Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET)) and the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA).
Phase 1: September 2018 - June 2022
Phase 2: Until March 2025
Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria
Objectives
- to strengthen the LMIC healthcare workforce in areas related to antimicrobial stewardship
- to support the development and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship policies in LMIC healthcare institutions that are in line with national and international frameworks
- to improve the knowledge and understanding of NHS volunteers on antimicrobial stewardship in low-resource settings
- CwPAMS 2 builds on Phase 1 by further integrating the impact of the AMS capacity development activities, as well as rolling them out to other institutions. Health partnerships will also be encouraged where relevant to develop a hub and spoke model, with the hub being responsible for disseminating training and capacity building to other local facilities. Phase 2 will also have a greater focus on clinical microbiology, community pharmacy, and the detection and reporting of substandard and falsified antimicrobial medicines.
Activities
- develop partnerships between NHS Trusts and clinics/hospitals in low- and middle-income commonwealth Africa countries
- inspire and fund focused projects on the theme of AMR, that includes activity on antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance, infection prevention control and antimicrobial pharmacy expertise and capacity building
- provide continuing guidance and support on partnership working, antimicrobial stewardship best practice, monitoring and evaluation and behaviour change
- facilitate cross-partnership lessons learning and sharing of best practice and results
- Further development and embedding of antimicrobial prescribing App, building on work of Strategic Alignment Grant, Surveillance and Prescribing Support for Antimicrobial Stewardship Resource Capacity Building (SPARC). The App provides guidance on antimicrobial use as well as other key AMS guidance, resources and training documents.
- Africa Leadership Fellowship-AMS (ALF-A) to support pharmacists to develop health leadership skills so they can lead AMS initiatives.