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Infection

Antimicrobial Resistance Threatens Public Health in Rwanda

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Public health in Rwanda is facing a critical threat from antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a natural process accelerated by human activity, mainly the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials. In 2019, an estimated 2,400 deaths were directly linked to drug-resistant infections, and another 9,800 were associated with them. The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. This makes common infections harder to treat, increases the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability, and death.

Key Takeaways:

  • Antimicrobial resistance is a natural process accelerated by human activity, mainly the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, and is a significant threat to public health in Rwanda, with an estimated 2,400 deaths directly linked to drug-resistant infections and 9,800 associated with them in 2019.
  • The WHO warns that AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, making common infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability, and death.
  • Richard Bishumba, a pharmacist and Chairman of AMR Initiative Rwanda, notes that repeated use of antibiotics without proper medical advice leads to treatment failure and increases the risk of resistant infections.
  • The misuse of antibiotics includes taking them without a prescription, not completing full dosages, or using them to treat viral illnesses like the common cold.
  • The national framework for addressing AMR in Rwanda includes strengthening surveillance, reducing infection through improved hygiene and sanitation, improving the responsible use of antimicrobials, increasing laboratory capacity, and improving policy governance and investment.
  • Dr. Leopold Bitunguhari, a medical researcher, stresses the importance of improving prescription practices, refusing to dispense antibiotics without clear justification, and promoting basic hygiene like hand washing to prevent infections and reduce antibiotic use.
  • Nadia Uwera, the Medicines Registration Specialist at Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority, highlights the need for a coordinated response to change practices through local education, stronger enforcement of prescription rules, and improving access to veterinary care through trained paraprofessionals and mobile outreach.
  • The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that AMR could reverse decades of progress in medicine, and estimates that the global healthcare system could face up to $1 trillion in additional costs by 2050.

Statistics:

  • An estimated 2,400 deaths in 2019 were directly linked to drug-resistant infections in Rwanda.
  • Another 9,800 deaths were associated with drug-resistant infections in 2019.
  • AMR is among the top 10 public health threats globally, according to the World Health Organization.
  • In 2019, AMR was responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide and associated with nearly 5 million more.
  • Children under five are disproportionately affected, accounting for one in five AMR-related deaths globally.
  • The global healthcare system could face up to $1 trillion in additional costs by 2050 due to AMR.
  • Annual GDP losses could range between $1 trillion and $3.4 trillion by 2030 due to AMR.

Sources:

  • Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
  • World Health Organisation (WHO)
  • Richard Bishumba, Chairman of AMR Initiative Rwanda
  • Dr. Leopold Bitunguhari, medical researcher
  • Nadia Uwera, Medicines Registration Specialist at Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority
  • Claude Mambo Muvunyi, Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)

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