Nigeria launches a landmark survey to map the antimicrobial resistance burden and inform policy.

NIGERIA— Nigeria has taken a decisive step in addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by launching its first nationally representative survey on the growing public health threat.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are supporting this milestone initiative, which will generate vital data to shape evidence-based policies, enhance patient outcomes, and strengthen the country’s health system.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH&SW) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) recently completed a five-day planning workshop with technical support from WHO.

This collaborative session brought together stakeholders from government agencies, academic institutions, and international partners to finalize the technical protocol and operational strategy for the survey.

Nigeria becomes only the third country worldwide to partner with WHO on a national AMR survey.

WHO selected Nigeria based on its strong commitment to AMR surveillance, its updated National Action Plan 2.0, and its readiness to expand laboratory and data collection systems.

The stakes are particularly high for Nigeria, which currently ranks 20th globally for age-standardized mortality due to AMR.

The Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance project at the University of Washington says that drug-resistant infections caused an estimated 263,400 deaths in Nigeria in 2019 alone.

This is more than the total number of deaths from enteric infections, tuberculosis, respiratory infections, maternal and neonatal disorders, neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and cardiovascular diseases.

Beyond the human cost, AMR also places an enormous financial burden on healthcare systems.

Globally, resistant infections in tertiary care settings cost between USD2,371 and USD29,289 per patient episode while extending hospital stays by an average of 7.4 days and increasing mortality risk by 84 percent.

AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites develop resistance to treatments, making infections increasingly difficult to cure.

Effective surveillance becomes essential to track resistance patterns, identify priority pathogens, and guide targeted interventions.

Dr. Tochi Okwor, Acting Head of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at NCDC, emphasized the significance of this development.

She stated that the planning workshop marks a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s AMR response and expressed confidence that WHO’s support will help generate the evidence needed to protect public health.

The survey aims to establish a national baseline on AMR prevalence, assess the distribution and burden of resistance across different regions and populations, and contribute to the global target of reducing AMR deaths by 10 percent by 2030.

This target aligns with the political declaration endorsed at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in 2024.

Additionally, the initiative will strengthen routine AMR surveillance, including diagnostics, sample referral systems, and laboratory capacity.

Using WHO’s standardized methodology, the survey will run for 12 to 15 months and cover 40 to 45 randomly selected health facilities nationwide.

Healthcare workers will identify patients with suspected bloodstream infections using standard case definitions, and quality-assured laboratories will analyze blood samples.

Researchers will collect data across all age groups, covering clinical, demographic, laboratory, financial, and outcome indicators.

The team will conduct follow-up assessments at discharge, 28 days, and three months post-infection, sampling approximately 35,000 patients to obtain around 800 isolates of the most common pathogens.

The WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to the initiative.

He noted that Nigeria is taking a decisive step toward combating AMR with an approach grounded in data, science, and measurable impact.

Dr. Ursu emphasized that this survey will provide the clarity needed to drive smarter policies, stronger surveillance, and better patient outcomes while laying the foundations for a resilient health system that protects lives and ensures essential medicines remain effective for future generations.

Dr. Laetitia Gahimbare, technical officer at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, added that strengthening surveillance enhances Nigeria’s capacity to detect and respond to AMR threats while supporting better patient outcomes and building a resilient system.

Professor Babatunde Ogunbosi, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at University College Hospital in Ibadan, highlighted the broader impact of the initiative.

He explained that this survey extends beyond data collection to building national capacity for research, diagnostics, and policy while integrating science into public health decision-making.

Nigeria’s participation contributes to regional and international efforts to monitor resistance and coordinate responses to this global health challenge.

The survey also supports the One Health approach, recognizing the interconnected nature of human, animal, and environmental health.

By improving diagnostics, strengthening laboratory infrastructure, and promoting responsible antimicrobial use, the initiative will help reduce treatment failures and advance Nigeria’s progress toward universal health coverage and national health security.

WHO ranks AMR among its top global health priorities, with Nigeria’s efforts, supported by WHO, NCDC, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, and the Global Fund, demonstrating strong national ownership and multisectoral collaboration in addressing this critical public health challenge.