By Michael Gwarisa
The Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife has commended the first phase of the Fleming Fund Grant for supporting the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in strengthening its surveillance and tracking of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment.
Zimbabwe recently launched the second phase of the One Health National Action Plan (2024-2028) alongside the Fleming Fund II Grant. A key focus of this phase is expanding environmental surveillance and monitoring of AMR levels across the country.
EMA’s laboratory has been significantly strengthened and now has the capacity to conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). This is a remarkable achievement, as AST is a specialized test,” said Minister of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife, Sithembiso Nyoni. “This advancement allows us to proactively monitor AMR in the environment, providing critical data to inform our interventions and protect our ecosystem.”
She emphasized the importance of a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health to address the complex challenge of AMR in Zimbabwe.
“I am particularly keen to highlight the progress made in the environmental sector, with a major emphasis on the EMA laboratory. Thanks to the generous support of the Fleming Fund during the National Action Plan, EMA laboratories have been significantly capacitated and can now conduct AMR testing. This is a remarkable achievement.”
Currently, EMA is collecting environmental samples from Harare and Bulawayo. However, Minister Nyoni revealed that plans are underway to expand sampling points to Mashonaland West, Masvingo, and Manicaland provinces.
“This expanded surveillance network will provide a more comprehensive picture of AMR prevalence in our environment, enabling us to implement targeted strategies and mitigate the risks associated with environmental contamination,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the second National Action Plan for AMR (NAP II) includes specific activities aimed at understanding AMR in the environment and assessing its associated risks.
“This dedicated focus on the environmental dimension is crucial, and I commend the technical experts who contributed to this development. I am delighted that, in its second phase, the Fleming Fund has recognized the vital role the environment plays in responding to AMR,” said Minister Nyoni.
She further stressed the need for continued investment in AMR surveillance and diagnostics, underscoring the importance of a One Health approach.
“Investing in environmental AMR surveillance is instrumental in strengthening our capacity to monitor, mitigate, and ultimately control AMR in our ecosystem,” she added.
Until now, most solutions to antimicrobial resistance have been approached from a medical perspective. However, effectively combating AMR requires addressing its sources, which is where the environmental dimension plays a crucial role. The environment serves as a reservoir for antimicrobial-resistant microbes and pathogens, and preventing their spread is essential in controlling AMR.
