Zanzibar finalizes Financial Plan for National AMR Action Plan (2025-2029)

ZANZIBAR—Zanzibar’s Health, Natural Resources, Irrigation, and Livestock Ministries have finalized financial planning for their 2025-2029 National Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with WHO support.

This process involved using the WHO’s Costing and Budgeting Tool, which is crucial for spotting funding shortfalls and securing extra funds to ensure that key activities can be carried out effectively.

This initiative demonstrates Zanzibar’s dedication to tackling AMR through a unified, multi-sectoral strategy.

Stakeholders were trained on how to use the WHO tool, which they then applied to estimate the costs of the activities prioritized in the national AMR plan.

Dr. Fedjo Tefoyet, WHO’s Team Lead for Universal Health Coverage Life Course, highlighted the significance of gathering AMR stakeholders in Zanzibar under the One Health approach.

This method has allowed them to pinpoint exactly where funding is lacking and how to bridge these gaps.

 According to Dr. Tefoyet, this planning has paved a clear path for enhancing coordination and ensuring that the necessary resources are available to execute the AMR plan effectively.

In addition to finalizing the financial aspects, WHO has also been instrumental in boosting local technical skills.

Now, cost coordinators are well-versed in using the WHO tool not just for this plan but for budgeting other strategic initiatives as well, and they can train more stakeholders in the future.

Muhiddin Kamange, the AMR Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that the WHO tool has been invaluable in providing a clear financial overview of their activities.

This clarity helps identify where more funds are needed, simplifies the process of addressing funding gaps, and accelerates the implementation of the AMR plan.

The next step involves a high-level, multi-sectoral meeting to endorse the now-costed NAP officially.

Following this, the focus will shift towards rallying resources from both local and international partners to fully support the execution of the prioritized activities in Zanzibar’s strategy against AMR.

This comprehensive approach not only addresses immediate needs but also builds a foundation for sustainable health practices in the region.