New research examines obstacles for youth-led AMR efforts in sub-Saharan Africa
Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat.
In a region already disproportionately affected by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), young people play an active role in combating it, but struggle to sustain the impact of their initiatives. A recent publication maps out the key barriers.
Antimicrobial resistance, which occurs when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics used to treat infections, is a growing global health threat. While youth in Sub-Saharan Africa are engaged in addressing AMR, limited resources and structural challenges hinder the long-term effectiveness of their efforts.
The authors of an article recently published in Global Health Action have interviewed young leaders of the anti-AMR movement in 15 Sub-Saharan countries. They found that AMR is often perceived as an invisible threat, and that generational and structural barriers—along with limited funding—make community engagement and sustained action difficult.
“Young professionals in the AMR community work hard to tailor communication to different audiences,” says Mirko Ancillotti, researcher at the Uppsala University Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics and a co-author of the study. “But moving beyond symbolic participation requires mentorship, funding, and formal roles in decision-making.”
Nearly 70% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa are 30 or younger. According to Mirko Ancillotti and co-authors, recognising and resourcing youth-led initiatives within national action plans - and meaningfully involving young professionals in policy processes - can strengthen community engagement and improve responses to antimicrobial resistance in low-resource settings.
“Despite the obstacles they face, these young people demonstrate innovative approaches, including targeted actions tailored to specific social groups,” Mirko Ancillotti concludes. “Their strong commitment to AMR education and policy advocacy should not be wasted. Sub-Saharan Africa desperately needs both funding and structures that allow this work to be sustained.”
By Anna Holm Bodin
Samwel, E. V., Biasiotto, R., Mosha, M., & Ancillotti, M. (2025). Beyond symbolic participation: youth-led organisations’ voices and actions against antimicrobial resistance in Africa South of the Sahara. Global Health Action, 18(1). DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2025.2601409