Ethiopia's Commitment to Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: Launch of the Fourth National Action Plan
Ethiopia marked a significant milestone in its fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by launching the Fourth National Action Plan during the World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) 2025. This high-profile event, held at the Africa CDC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, gathered senior government officials and international partners to emphasize the urgent need for coordinated action against AMR.
The global theme, "Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future," set the tone for the event, highlighting the importance of immediate measures to address the growing threat of AMR. The Minister of Health, HE Dr. Mekdes Daba, emphasized the dire consequences of AMR, with 1.27 million deaths annually and a projected increase of 70% in mortality rates by 2050 if no decisive action is taken. She underscored the disproportionate impact on low- and middle-income countries.
Ethiopia's progress in combating AMR was celebrated, with notable achievements under the previous plan. These included a 59% increase in AMR awareness among healthcare workers, the establishment of 26 sentinel surveillance sites, the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in 328 health facilities, and strengthened infection prevention and control measures nationwide. However, the Minister also identified areas for improvement, such as limited diagnostic capacity, a shortage of skilled laboratory personnel, and inadequate regulatory enforcement.
The newly launched National Action Plan (NAP) 4.0 is a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy developed through a rigorous process. It began with an end-term evaluation of the previous plan, identifying gaps, achievements, and lessons learned. Based on this assessment, a wide range of interventions were proposed, aligning with the Global Action Plan on AMR, drawing from other countries' experiences, and guided by the WHO's people-centered approach. The SMART Choice prioritization tool was then employed to select the most strategic and impactful interventions, followed by the WHO AMR costing and budgeting tool to establish a clear financial framework.
The result is NAP 4.0, a five-year plan designed to strengthen AMR surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, laboratory systems, infection prevention and control, community awareness, and One Health coordination. This plan is fully costed and evidence-based, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing AMR.
International partners, including the World Health Organization, pledged their support for Ethiopia's implementation of NAP 4.0. WHO emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration across sectors and committed to providing technical assistance for strengthening national AMR governance, surveillance, diagnostics, capacity building, and risk communication.
The event concluded with a multisectoral panel discussion, where government leaders and partners highlighted sector-specific roles and opportunities to accelerate the plan's implementation. The commitment to reducing the burden of AMR and preserving the effectiveness of life-saving medicines was strongly expressed. The launch of NAP 4.0 marks a significant step forward in Ethiopia's AMR response, paving the way for coordinated, evidence-based actions to safeguard health, food security, and the environment. WHO remains a dedicated partner in Ethiopia's efforts to "Act Now" for a safer future.
