The Ohio State Global One Health initiative (GOHi) has played a key role in alleviating the impacts of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Ethiopia by implementing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Global Action in Healthcare Network - Antimicrobial Resistance (GAIHN-AR) module.
GAIHN-AR is a global network of healthcare facilities, laboratories and infection prevention and control (IPC) teams dedicated to protecting patients and healthcare workers from critical or emerging AMR threats by working at the forefront of laboratory detection, communication and IPC action within healthcare settings. Ethiopia is a member of the GAIHN-AR Network through the U.S. CDC Cooperative Agreement with The Ohio State University.
In addition to the global efforts, GOHi has also celebrated World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) with partner facilities, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Zewditu Memorial Hospital, by hosting scientific discussions. GOHi presented six months of antibiogram data on major circulating pathogens in facilities, annual trends on the burden of these pathogens, and the evolution of these pathogens in terms of antimicrobial susceptibility to the hospital community. The team also met with clinicians to learn about the impacts of AMR and how to address it at a facility and national level.
During the national conference organized by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health to commemorate WAAW, GOHi shared its experience on microbiologic and IPC-based strategies implemented at facilities with partners and stakeholders.