AMR Awareness Drive Educates JKUAT Community on Prevention Strategies - Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

*From left to right: Audrey Situma and Terry Nekesa, pharmacy students, educating a member of the public about AMR.*

The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Pharmacy Students’ Association (JPSA), in collaboration with the Medical Microbiology Students, the Red Cross Society of JKUAT, and the Hospital Pharmacists’ Association of Kenya, organized an Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) awareness drive on Saturday, March 1st, 2025.

The drive aimed to educate the community about AMR and provide strategies for preventing its spread. Participants were informed about the proper disposal of expired and unused medications, the importance of maintaining good hygiene, such as regularly washing hands, and ensuring vegetables are properly cleaned.

AMR occurs when germs, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi, become resistant to medicines like antibiotics that were once effective in killing them, making infections harder to treat. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified AMR as one of the most dangerous global health threats. According to the WHO, AMR was directly responsible for over 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 and contributed to an additional 4.95 million deaths globally.

During the drive, Audrey Situma, a fourth-year Bachelor of Pharmacy student and Chairperson of JPSA, emphasized the importance of educating the public about AMR and its prevention.

“Our main goal for conducting this drive is to educate the public about Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in a way that is simple and easy to understand. We aim to raise awareness and teach people how to prevent its spread in their homes and marketplaces,” said Situma.

To ensure the drive’s success, the students underwent training to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively communicate the importance of AMR prevention.

The training, led by Mr. Joseph Kamau, covered key topics such as strategies for educating the public on hygiene and drug disposal, and the importance of using clear, accessible language.

“As we approach different individuals in the community, we must use language they are familiar with so they can better understand the strategies for AMR control,” said Mr. Kamau, ADA Prevention and Management Committee Secretary, Counseling Psychologist, and Mental Health Champion.