Combating Antimicrobial Resistance with Stronger Health Systems

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the world’s most pressing and urgent global health threats —one that could erode gains against tuberculosis (TB), malaria, HIV/AIDS, and many other infectious diseases. While AMR has emerged as a critical issue at the global level, current efforts to address AMR are insufficient to curb its spread. Immediate, cross-cutting, and … Read more

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Developing Better Terms of Reference to Improve the Performance of Pharmaceutical Sector Committees: Case Studies from South Africa

In South Africa, there are numerous governance structures that make crucial decisions about selection, procurement, distribution, and use of medicines, diagnostics, and other pharmaceutical products. A challenge commonly encountered is that critical committees either do not exist or where the committee is in place, it does not function optimally. One of the most underlying causes … Read more

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Inventory of Key USAID and Global AMR-related System Strengthening Resources/Interventions

This inventory is a selected list of resources and interventions that support antimicrobial resistance (AMR) containment. The objective of this inventory is to provide a list of key resources, tools, and interventions that create or strengthen systems that are necessary to improve antimicrobial use and AMR containment. Along with the full references, links are provided directly … Read more

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Supporting drug and therapeutics committees in Sierra Leone to promote safe, appropriate medicine use

Irrational medicine use and poor pharmaceutical management at all levels are widespread problems in many developing countries, including Sierra Leone. Misuse, underuse, and overuse of medicines; weak systems that compromise medicine safety; the waste of scarce resources due to expiry; and the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are particularly worrying because they directly affect health … Read more

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Pediatric Antiretroviral Treatment Uptake, Treatment Adherence, Regimen Switches, and Retention in Care in Namibia

In Namibia, a preliminary review of EDT records suggests that children form a small proportion of the patients accessing ART in any given setting, nationally composing 8% of the patients on ART in the MoHSS facilities. Over the years, managing children has been complicated with formulations that have not been friendly for children, complicated regimens, and … Read more

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Building Coalitions for Containing Antimicrobial Resistance: A Guide

This guide aims to help individuals, organizations, and governments develop, establish, and maintain effective multidisciplinary and multisectoral coalitions to combat AMR. This document provides guidance on building and strengthening coalitions to combat AMR through five key elements. It primarily focuses on the creation and establishment of new coalitions; however, these elements are relevant throughout the … Read more

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2014 National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory Annual Report

This annual report is the first of its kind for the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL). The following provides a general picture of NTRL’s activities and accomplishments related to service and development in 2014. It documents the expansion of laboratory services and adoption of new technologies in the context of new developments in TB diagnosis … Read more

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Supportive Supervision and Mentorship Site Visit for Pharmacy Services in the Shiselweni Region, Swaziland

With support from SIAPS and in collaboration with other development partners, the Central Medical Stores (CMS) conducts supportive supervision and mentorship (SSM) visits to health facilities. Through these visits, the capacity of health personnel is built to effectively manage pharmaceuticals and services, improve the rational use of pharmaceuticals, and strengthen supply chain management at all levels … Read more

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Report on Routine Supportive Supervision Visits to Health Facilities in the Hhohho and Lubombo Regions, Swaziland

Since October 2015, SIAPS has been supporting hospitals, health centers, and high volume clinics at the request of regional implementing partners in the Hhohho and Lubombo regions. This report documents the support that facilities have received, progress made, and recommendations for future support.

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The Economic Cost of Non-Adherence to TB Medicines Resulting from Stock-Outs and Loss to Follow-Up in the Philippines

A key element of successful tuberculosis (TB) control programs is adherence to treatment. Non-adherence results in increased length and severity of illness, death, disease transmission, and drug resistance. The purpose of this study was to estimate the morbidity and mortality impact and economic costs of non-adherence to TB medicines resulting from treatment interruption due to … Read more

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