NNAST Terms of reference
NNAST will support NCDC and other agencies working on AMR in Nigeria
- NNAST terms of reference will reflect and demonstrate support towards the actualization of the four national AMS core elements at national, subnational, and healthcare facility levels in line with the AMR NAP 2.0 and the national AMS Sub-TWG and the Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination Committee (AMRCC).
- 1. Help strengthen the national, subnational, and healthcare facility-based AMS programs (National Plan and strategies): Provide technical support to the AMS-TWG and the AMRCC to ensure AMS activities align with the National Action Plan. o Help to review the AMS program to look for gaps and duplication in data funding and programs. o Help develop advocacy tools for healthcare administrators and policymakers to promote AMS at the subnational and healthcare facility level. Help increase information on AMR in Nigeria through antimicrobial stewardship efforts including surveillance, identification of resistant organisms, interpretation of data, management of infections caused by resistant and other organisms, research, education, and policymaking. o Assist with the review and validation of national AMS, Antimicrobial Use (AMU), and AMC strategies and protocols o Support the AMS-TWG and the AMRCC to mobilize resources for the AMS program scale-up at all levels of healthcare. o Promote rational antimicrobial use through evidence-based practices and local data on AMR.
- 2. Support the review and development of relevant regulations and guidelines (National regulations and guidelines) o Collaborate with the relevant regulatory authorities (NAFDAC, PCN, MDCN) to review and or develop protocols for appropriate antimicrobial acquisition, use, and distribution. o Support the national AMS sub-TWG and collaborate with the national Essential Medicine List (NEML) committee to review the NEML, standard treatment guidelines using locally generated evidence. o Assist and support healthcare facilities to develop facility-specific antibiotic use guidelines based on locally generated data. o Assist in monitoring the impact of the AMS program in Nigeria by implementing regular performance and surveillance reviews using predefined AMR indicators.
- 3. Strengthen AMS education and training among the healthcare workforce. o Support the AMS-TWG to review and validate the existing training resources on antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship) o Design and help to coordinate training programs for multidisciplinary healthcare workers on antimicrobial stewardship (Clinicians, Pharmacists, IPC nurses, Laboratory scientists, Administrators, medical record staff, IT personnel) o Collaborate with the national AMR Awareness sub-TWG to develop pre-service (Undergraduate) and post-service training programs (Postgraduate colleges).
- 4. Promote the use of technology, research, and evidence-based data for decision-making o Assist in establishing an integrated AMS data management system: Collaborate with the AMS sub-TWG to develop a unified platform that helps consolidate surveillance data on resistant pathogens, antimicrobials and stewardship protocols, and relevant information thereby enhancing local evidence-based decision-making and effective communication across National, subnational, and healthcare facility levels. o Collaborate with the AMS sub-TWG to advocate for the establishment and deployment of electronic medical record systems at healthcare facilities to ensure appropriate AMS-related data capture and management. o Support the AMR surveillance sub-TWG to review and or develop a diagnostic stewardship toolkit for regional healthcare systems to promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials based on locally generated data. o Assist with the establishment of a database that would collate and coordinate research activities on antimicrobial stewardship in Nigeria.
- 5. Work closely with the National AMR committee to improve collaboration on AMS o There will be a dual reporting approach that balances independent operations with accountability and collaboration. o NNAST will meet regularly with the national AMR-TWG to discuss updates on activities and progress and the engagement of new agencies or groups working on AMR, ensuring that all key stakeholders remain informed and actively involved in decision making. o NNAST will work with the AMRCC to mobilize funds for the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.
| NNAST will support NCDC and other agencies working on AMR in Nigeria by helping to |
| Nationalize the strategy for combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and its consequences in Nigeria. |
| Increase information known about infectious pathogens and resistant patterns in Nigeria. |
| Collate existing polices on AMR in Nigeria. |
| Align existing and new policies on AMR in Nigeria. |
| Align with agencies doing existing work on AMR in Nigeria. |
| Interface and collaborate with researchers and research activities on AMR in Nigeria. |
| Research and review all known information and publications about AMR in Nigeria. |
| Establish AMR leadership in States and Local Government Areas throughout the country. |
| Establish laboratory and equipment infrastructure to assist with identifying drug resistant pathogens in various parts of the country. |
| Establish effective surveillance systems for collection and analyses of data regarding throughout the Country |
| Coordinate effective processes for AMR pattern surveillance and monitoring across states and Local Government areas. |
| Establish an integrated digital information platform network to assist in communication, coordination, sharing and dissemination of information on AMR in Nigeria across the system. |
| Implement and coordinate the process for AMR surveillance, collection, transmission, processing, review, storage, and analysis across LGAs and states across the country. |
