Tanzania has positioned itself as one of Africa’s emerging leaders in combating drug-resistant infections, after moving from the lowest global ranking in 2016 to significantly higher levels of compliance in 2024.
Vice President Ambassador Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi announced the progress on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam as he opened the Africa Antimicrobial Resistance Week, a regional gathering bringing together experts, policymakers and partners from across the continent.
Dr. Nchimbi said Tanzania’s rise from Level 1 to Levels 3 and 4 reflects the government’s commitment to implementing the Second National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2023–2028).
The plan applies the One Health approach that links human health, livestock and agriculture in responding to the fast-growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, widely known in Tanzania as UVIDA.
He said the progress has strengthened the country’s contribution to commitments made during the 79th United Nations General Assembly, where nations agreed on joint, urgent action to address drug-resistant infections.
“We must continue expanding public awareness, strengthening surveillance of drug use and resistance, and widening preventive measures in hospitals, farms and communities,” the Vice President said.
He added that strengthening the responsible use of medicines in humans, animals and crops, enforcing laws against misuse and investing more in research and innovation should remain key priorities.
Earlier, Minister for Health Mohamed Mchengerwa urged African countries to match commitment with concrete action if the continent is to manage the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance.
“Speaking without acting will not get us anywhere. We must recognise that antimicrobial resistance is a cross-cutting challenge and a global emergency. As Nelson Mandela reminded us, Africa succeeds when it acts together,” he said.
The regional AMR meeting, hosted by Tanzania, is taking place under the theme “Take Action Now, Protect Today and Tomorrow.”
