Students Against Superbugs (SAS) Africa is a student-driven initiative under the guidance of qualified health professionals which seeks to mitigate the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in African communities using a One Health Approach with a keen focus on rural areas and urban informal settlements. We do this by empowering young people throughout Africa to be lead advocates in the fight against AMR. Young people account for majority of the population and are the future global leaders and stakeholders. Their active participation will play a huge role in curtailing this health burden. It is imperative that they are made aware of it early enough, and nurtured to help in transiting appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and practices to their respective communities.
Why Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health putting the gains of the millennium development goals at risk and endangering the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Globally, antimicrobial-resistant infections are responsible for about 700,000 deaths per year. This figure is expected to increase rapidly to about 10 million deaths and a further USD 100 trillion in health care costs by 2050, if antimicrobial resistance is not put in check. Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to account for a larger proportion due to inadequate diagnostic capacity and routine surveillance for antimicrobial resistance. AMR has been on the rise in LMICs due to the following reasons;
- Most students are not enlightened about Antimicrobial Resistance.
- Innovative solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa on new antibiotics have failed to keep up with the pace of Antimicrobial Resistance.
- There are little practical skills that medical students are equipped with regarding infection, prevention, and control
- Lack of a social responsibility culture among health students.
- A high rate of transmission of infectious diseases in urban informal settlements due to poor hygiene and sanitation.
This has been a concern because the rates of resistance have outpaced the discovery of novel antibiotics. In fact, no new major types of antibiotics have been developed in over 30 years while antibiotic use has risen to 40% in the past one and a half decade. Because the rate of discovery for new antibiotics is so low, it is paramount that existing antibiotics are used appropriately and rationally. We are lead advocates in this fight
Our Mission
Our mission is to mitigate the threat on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and improve the overall quality of life in African communities by empowering young people to be vocal AMR advocates through training and instilling in them the virtues of social responsibility by engaging them in effective education, infection prevention and control, research, and innovation programs using a One Health Approach
Our Vision
To be a lead youth-driven organization curtailing the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance in Africa and contribute actively to global solutions.
Our Core Values
Highest Professional Standards
Empowerment
Servant Leadership
Teamwork
Commitment
Innovation
Multi-disciplinary Engagement
Community Participation
Integrity
Youth Against Antimicrobial Resistance Webinar
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