Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious public-health threats of our time. As bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi evolve to resist the drugs designed to kill them, once-treatable infections become harder and sometimes impossible to cure. In Nigeria, where millions of people face infectious diseases each year, AMR has become a growing concern. This is why understanding the efforts behind WHO Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria is essential. The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a critical role in supporting the country’s AMR surveillance, strengthening laboratory systems, guiding policy, and helping communities understand the importance of responsible antimicrobial use.

Understanding AMR and Its Impact on Nigeria

Antimicrobial resistance develops when microorganisms adapt after repeated exposure to antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. In Nigeria, AMR has grown due to factors such as uncontrolled antibiotic access, misuse in healthcare and agriculture, inadequate sanitation, and a lack of diagnostic facilities. These issues create an environment where resistant infections can spread quickly, especially in densely populated cities or underserved rural communities.

Without coordinated action, AMR could increase illness, raise healthcare costs, limit treatment options, and threaten national development. Recognizing this urgency, WHO has partnered with Nigeria to strengthen surveillance and create a unified national response.

What the WHO Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria Program Covers

The WHO Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria initiative is part of the global action plan launched to help countries develop programs that track, prevent, and manage AMR. Nigeria has been a participant in this effort for years, and with WHO’s support, the country has made progress in building stronger systems for detecting and reporting resistant infections.

Below are the major pillars of WHO involvement in Nigeria:

Strengthening AMR Surveillance Systems

Reliable data is the foundation of strong AMR response. Before WHO involvement, Nigeria lacked consistent, nationwide data on resistant infections. Surveillance was limited to isolated studies, and many healthcare facilities did not have the equipment to test for resistant organisms.

WHO stepped in by supporting:

• The establishment of a National AMR Surveillance System

• Training health workers on laboratory techniques and reporting protocols

• Creating standardized guidelines for sample collection and analysis

• Integrating Nigeria into the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS)

Through GLASS, Nigerian laboratories can now submit AMR data to a global database, allowing experts to compare resistance patterns and track emerging threats. This is a major step forward in understanding how AMR spreads across regions, hospitals, and communities.

Supporting the National Action Plan on AMR

Nigeria’s National Action Plan (NAP) for AMR is modeled after WHO’s global framework. WHO provides technical guidance, capacity building, and policy support to ensure the Nigerian action plan remains aligned with international standards.

Key focus areas include:

• Raising awareness of AMR

• Improving infection prevention and control

• Enhancing the use of essential medicines

• Promoting research and innovation

• Strengthening regulations around antimicrobial use

By guiding national priorities, WHO ensures that Nigeria has a coordinated, long-term strategy for mitigating AMR.

Strengthening Laboratory Capacity

Laboratories are crucial to detecting resistant bacteria and confirming whether infections respond to treatment. Yet many Nigerian laboratories lack adequate equipment, staff training, or reliable diagnostic tools.

WHO has helped bridge these gaps by:

• Providing laboratory equipment

• Training microbiologists and technicians

• Supporting quality-assurance programs

• Establishing reference laboratories that set national standards

With these improvements, Nigeria can now more accurately track resistance trends and improve patient care outcomes.

Promoting Antimicrobial Stewardship in Healthcare Facilities

Antimicrobial stewardship refers to the responsible prescribing and use of antimicrobials. In Nigeria, antibiotics are often overused due to limited diagnostic tools, patient demand, and time constraints in busy hospitals.

WHO partners with hospitals and clinics to:

• Train healthcare workers on proper prescribing practices

• Introduce stewardship committees within healthcare facilities

• Develop guidelines for antibiotic selection and duration

• Improve patient education on the risks of misuse

These efforts help prevent unnecessary use and preserve the effectiveness of existing drugs.

Supporting Public Awareness and Community Engagement

AMR is not just a medical problem it is a societal challenge. Many Nigerians still believe antibiotics can cure viral infections like malaria, colds, or COVID-19. Over-the-counter sales and self-medication are widespread, especially in rural communities.

Through the WHO Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria program, awareness campaigns are conducted via:

• Radio programs

• Social media outreach

• Community mobilization through local leaders

• Training for patent medicine vendors

• School and youth-focused AMR education

By empowering people with accurate information, WHO helps reduce behaviors that contribute to resistance.

Addressing AMR in Agriculture and Animal Health

Antimicrobials are widely used in livestock production for disease prevention, treatment, and growth promotion. This agricultural use contributes significantly to resistance, as resistant bacteria can spread from animals to humans through food, water, and the environment.

WHO works with Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture to:

• Develop guidelines for responsible veterinary antimicrobial use

• Promote biosecurity and vaccination in livestock farming

• Monitor resistance in food-borne pathogens

• Train veterinarians and farmers on safer practices

This “One Health” approach acknowledges that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected.

Challenges Still Facing Nigeria

Despite significant progress, Nigeria still faces obstacles in fully implementing a strong AMR response:

• Uneven access to diagnostics

• Underfunded healthcare facilities

• High rates of self-medication

• Limited monitoring of antibiotic sales

• Spread of counterfeit or substandard drugs

• Inadequate sanitation in many communities

These barriers highlight the importance of continued support, coordination, and investment.

Why WHO Support Matters

WHO’s involvement provides Nigeria with:

• Technical expertise on global AMR trends

• Standardized tools for testing and data collection

• International collaboration with other countries facing similar challenges

• Training programs that strengthen long-term capacity

• Global reporting platforms like GLASS

• Policy alignment with international best practices

Without WHO’s leadership, Nigeria’s fight against AMR would be far more fragmented and less effective.

Conclusion

The WHO Antimicrobial Resistance in Nigeria program plays a vital role in strengthening the country’s fight against one of the greatest health threats of our time. By improving surveillance, supporting laboratories, guiding policy, promoting responsible antimicrobial use, and raising public awareness, WHO helps ensure that Nigerians are better protected from drug-resistant infections. While challenges remain, the progress achieved so far shows that with coordinated action, collaborative partnerships, and strong community engagement, Nigeria can build a resilient healthcare system capable of responding to AMR today and in the future. Protecting the power of antimicrobials is not just a global responsibility it is a national priority that will shape the health and wellbeing of generations to come.