
Tackling antimicrobial resistance in Papua New Guinea
Antimicrobial resistant bacteria (AMR) is of global concern: if current trends continue, health economists estimate that by 2050 AMR could result in up to 10 million annual deaths worldwide and USD100 trillion lost in economic activity.
Burnet Institute is leading the implementation of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Country Grant component of the Fleming Fund, a £500 million UK Aid program helping to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in low- and middle-income countries.
As drug resistant bacteria can spread freely around the environment, responses to AMR must involve multiple sectors.
Our project brings together a unique collaboration of experts in animal and human health, microbiology and surveillance, information technology and construction, all to support PNG’s domestic responses to address AMR.
Objective
Our PNG project aims to:
- strengthen One Health approaches to information sharing
- strengthen antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial consumption (AMC) surveillance and monitoring systems in the human health sector
- strengthen AMR and AMU surveillance and monitoring systems in the animal health sector.
Timeline
2020–2025.
Approach
Our project’s key activities include:
- strengthening national and subnational AMR governance structures including the establishment of active working groups across key sectors in PNG
- workforce development such as training laboratory personnel in biosafety and laboratory management
- enhancing animal health and human health laboratory infrastructure to support surveillance and diagnostic capabilities for AMR.
The Fleming Fund PNG project is establishing bacteriology diagnostics in laboratories throughout the country benefiting patients admitted to provincial hospitals in the Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Morobe and East New Britain provinces, as well as the National Capital District.
This laboratory strengthening has already assisted PNG with their COVID-19 responses.
The project embraces a One Health approach.
The combination of human and animal AMR surveillance will allow PNG to better understand the extent of AMR across the country and develop strategies to address AMR.
Partners
Funding partner
- Fleming Fund (through UK Aid Department of Health and Social Services)
Collaborators
- PNG Government and PNG Institute of Medical Research
- Beyond EssenDal Systems (BES)
- Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health
- Conrad Gargett Architects
Project team

Dr Amrita Ronnachit
Senior Technical Advisor

James Lawson
Program Manager / Country Program Manager

Dr Kudakwashe Chani
Head, AMR-One Health Group

Mona Kheng
Surveillance Officer – Antimicrobial Resistance

Professor Robert Power AM
Fleming Fund Program Director; Project Consultant

Shan Huang
Global Health Specialist

Possawat Jorakate
Technical Coordinator

Dr Nomvuyo Mothobi
Technical Advisor
