Celebrating a new milestone in the UK-Pakistan partnership to tackle AMR and strengthen health systems
As part of the joint effort to enhance Pakistan’s capacity to manage and mitigate the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the UK’s Fleming Fund has refurbished the microbiology laboratories at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Reference Laboratory for Poultry Diseases (NRLPD) and the National Veterinary Laboratory.
Supported by the UK Health Security Agency and DAI, events were held at NIH Islamabad and NRLPD to inaugurate the successful refurbishments of new laboratories and offices, as well as new equipment, training and technical assistance.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)’s Fleming Fund is a UK aid programme supporting up to 25 countries across Africa and Asia to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a leading contributor to deaths from infectious diseases worldwide. The Fleming Fund invests in strengthening surveillance systems through a portfolio of country grants, regional grants and fellowships managed by Mott MacDonald, and global projects managed by DHSC.
£9.7m has been invested in Pakistan, providing direct support to the country’s government by improving surveillance on AMR to provide evidence for action, including antimicrobial consumption (AMC). This includes training on microbiology, biosafety and biosecurity; extensive refurbishments to national and provincial laboratories; and strengthening quality control of tests, within both animal health and human health labs, for AMR surveillance capacities. The grant has also invested in improving surveillance of the use of antimicrobial drugs in human health and agriculture.
The country grants, implemented by DAI, represent one part of a longstanding bilateral health partnership with Pakistan. The fund also supports five regional grants and a professional fellowship scheme across Southeast Asia, managed by Mott MacDonald, while funding the South Centre’s research to tackle AMR and coordinate activities between countries. Together, these are helping to manage and mitigate the threat of AMR in Pakistan, contributing towards a healthier world.
Prof Stan Fenwick, Mott MacDonald’s South-east Asia Regional coordinator for the Fleming Fund, said: “The success of the Fleming Fund programme in Pakistan would not have been possible without the full support of the Pakistan government. AMR is a complex global and multisectoral problem that can only be combated through a sustainable One Health approach.
“Pakistan’s commitment to reducing the burden of AMR requires a strong surveillance network and refurbishment of these key national reference laboratories gives them strengthened capacity to lead and support the national AMR control system, across both the human and animal health sectors. Mott MacDonald is proud to support this work.”
Executive director of NIH, Maj. Gen. Aamer Ikram, expressed his gratitude to the Fleming Fund for conducting such a significant project. He said: “We have come a long way since the initial launch of the AMR National Action Plan (NAP) in Pakistan in 2017 and the NIH has attained its accreditation as AMR Reference lab in line with international standards.
“I would like to thank the Department of Health and Social Care of the UK Government and the Fleming Fund Pakistan Grant for their support in this journey. I look forward to continuing our work in combating AMR together.”
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