Ways of Working and Learning in AMR surveillance systems in LMICs: Findings from the scoping phase

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Our ability to treat life-threatening conditions is threatened by the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Tackling the effects of AMR requires international collaboration and partnership to ensure that robust AMR surveillance can provide health intelligence data to inform evidence-based interventions at local, national and international levels.

Abstract

Strengthening AMR surveillance, particularly in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) where the impact of infectious diseases is highest and the ability to respond to AMR may be limited, is a global health priority. This report contributes to this priority by recommending specific interventions that build capacity in AMR surveillance.

The work detailed in this report contributes to the Fleming Fund programme led by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), specifically the objective overseen by Mott MacDonald to improve capacity in AMR surveillance in LMICs. This programme has been established to support LMICs in developing AMR surveillance systems. This work is aligned with the World Health Organization’s Global AMR Surveillance System (GLASS) to support the Global Action Plan on AMR.

The scope of this report is defined by the grant agreement between the Open University (OU) and Mott MacDonald. The scoping period began in April 2018 and is set out in two phases. Phase 1 (April – June 2018) was global scoping study involving desk research and interviews with AMR experts around the world to identify changes needed to build capacity in AMR surveillance. Phase 2 (July – December 2018) involved detailed analysis of the work practices of AMR surveillance policy specialists and laboratory professionals located within a number of animal, agricultural and human health sites in 3 LMICs: Bhutan, Tanzania and Ghana. Through site visits we identified the skills and knowledge needed by people in different job roles and how these skills could best be learned in ways that would have a durable impact on work practice.

In this report, we draw on the evidence from Phases 1 and 2 in order to identify what knowledge and skills are needed, who needs to learn these skills and how learning might be facilitated through pilot learning events in the next phase of work, Phase 3 (January – June 2019). This report will also inform a longer-term approach to build AMR surveillance capacity in LMICs over the period 2019-2022.

Charitonos, Koula; Littlejohn, Allison; Seal, Timothy and Kaatrakoski, Heli (2018). Ways of Working and Learning in AMR surveillance systems in LMICs: Findings from the scoping phase. The Open University.

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