In partnership with the Fleming Fund, the Royal Government of Bhutan’s Ministry of Health (MoH) has renovated three antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance sites with advanced laboratory equipment to support the country’s health system.
Fleming Fund partnership with the Royal Government of Bhutan announced!
The Bhutan Country Grant is now active as we are delighted to announce the launch of the grant this week.
Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo, representing Bhutan’s Health Ministry and Sir Dominic Asquith, UK High Commissioner, launched the new partnership between the UK and the Royal Government of Bhutan at an event in Thimpu on the 25 March.
Through this partnership, the UK Government has agreed to invest up to £2.8 million in Bhutan to accelerate the fight against drug-resistant ‘superbugs,’ through helping establish a comprehensive surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both humans and animals.
April will see the start of the Fleming Fund Bhutan Country Grant which aims to establish a comprehensive surveillance system for AMR in both human and animal sectors. The grant will run for a 6-month inception and design period and is then expected to be extended for a further 18 months.
Mott MacDonald, the Management Agent for the Fleming Fund Grants Programme, has been working in consultation with the Royal Government of Bhutan to develop this proposal, aligning with country priorities and plans.
Earlier this year, seven Fleming Fund Fellows were chosen from Bhutan and will be equipped with the capability and networks to solve problems through guidance and mentorship from experts from the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne.
I am delighted that the UK government’s Fleming Fund will be supporting the Royal Government of Bhutan in their efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This partnership will facilitate the generation of vital data by strengthening laboratory capacity and building sustainable surveillance systems. Support to professional fellowships will help ensure this data is used to take action to reduce the threat in Bhutan. AMR is a global problem that demands international collaboration. Cross-country partnerships such as these are crucial to tackling this escalating threat.
Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England
This is a landmark event for the Fleming Fund and Bhutan, we look forward to working in partnership with the Royal Government of Bhutan to improve AMR surveillance and help address a leading public health threat.
Mott MacDonald
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Nestled between India and China, east of Nepal sits the Himalayan nation of Bhutan, home to just under 800,000 citizens. The country, which offers free education and health care to all Bhutanese, is also renowned for pioneering the concept of Gross National Happiness as a measure of the well being of the population.