Africa-Press – Eswatini. Eswatini’s Ministries of Health and Agriculture convened a high-level national meeting at The George Hotel to confront the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bringing together government departments, scientists, and development partners in a coordinated effort to protect public health, food systems, and the environment.
The meeting aims to strengthen how the country monitors, manages, and responds to the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial medicines.Senior officials from the Ministry of Health presented new national findings on antimicrobial resistance, use, and consumption in humans, detailing how hospitals and clinics across Eswatini are tracking patterns of antibiotic use and the spread of resistant infections. Experts noted that without strengthened surveillance, lifesaving medicines will continue to lose effectiveness, putting patients at greater risk from otherwise treatable illnesses.
The Ministry of Agriculture outlined parallel surveillance results from food production systems, including data from hygiene laboratories and central veterinary facilities assessing resistance levels in livestock, fruits, vegetables, and major water sources. Officials warned that emerging resistance within the food chain not only threatens consumer safety but also undermines Eswatini’s food security and agricultural economy.
Development partners such as ICAP, The Fleming Fund, and researchers from the University of Eswatini reinforced the need for a united “One Health” approach that links human, animal, and environmental protection. Their participation underscores growing national momentum to adopt better laboratory practices, strengthen data reporting, and promote responsible use of antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics across all sectors.
According to health authorities, the meeting marks one of the strongest multi-sectoral commitments Eswatini has made in recent years to contain AMR, an urgent global challenge that threatens healthcare systems, economic growth, and sustainable development. Delegates agreed that collaboration, accurate data, and strict stewardship of antimicrobial medicines remain the country’s best defense against resistant infections.
Eswatini’s coordinated action signals a decisive step toward building a safer future for communities, ensuring that essential medicines remain effective for generations to come.
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