Africa's youth are on the front line of the AMR fight, but we need EU help

While we have made strides in treating and preventing malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis, in part thanks to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the rise of antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, is threatening to reverse this progress drastically. Bacterial mutation will lead to many more preventable deaths, not only across the African continent but across the world. If we don’t change our behaviours, in 10 years, many of the antibiotics we rely on today will no longer work. The first time I encountered AMR was in the lab during my undergraduate studies. Watching through a microscope as microorganisms resisted medicines meant to destroy them was shocking. Inevitably, when treatment isn’t working, the body cannot fight these infections, and it is heartbreaking to see people dying of causes that could be treated. In communities where access to health care is a challenge, people share antibiotics instead of completing their prescribed courses. This leaves the patient vulnerable, while building up microbial resistance in their bodies, and in those who take the remaining medication. The question often is: If I finish this medicine, what will my child take if they fall sick? Will I be able to afford another hospital visit? Without that guaranteed access to medication, AMR becomes a silent death sentence. Deaths directly attributed to AMR are hard to measure because people die as a result of failed treatment of a particular disease, and the cause of death will most likely not be indicated as AMR. This is why adequate health financing and sustainable health care systems are crucial. It is only when people have access to affordable care and high-quality medicines that we can truly fight AMR. Half of sub-Saharan African countries are reliant on U.S. aid for over a quarter of their health spending. This year’s global aid cuts have hit hospitals and clinics hard. Many are struggling to find lifesaving medications. Youth leading behavioural change Alongside access, we need to address excess. When my niece was born, I began educating my family about antibiotic misuse. It’s common for parents to give antibiotics at the first sign of fever. But this does more harm than good. Explaining to my family why antibiotics should only be used when prescribed made a difference. Behavioural change is possible, especially when taken up by youth activists. I’ve seen it firsthand through my work with a youth movement that partnered with ReAct Africa and Zambia’s Ministry of Health. Together, we led AMR advocacy campaigns across six universities in Lusaka. We reached students not only in health fields, but also in social sciences and the humanities. It was amazing to see how even simple actions, like posting about AMR on your WhatsApp status, can start conversations. Young people are passionate and motivated because we know this is our future at stake and our battle to fight. While our spirit and determination have helped us scale awareness across universities, imagine how much further we could go with your help. As the 7th African Union–European Union Summit kicks off today, there are two ways leaders can not only support our efforts but also join forces with the future. 1. Replenishment of the Global Fund The European Commission must announce its pledge at the earliest opportunity. Since its inception in 2002, the Global Fund has saved over 70 million lives and cut the combined death rate of these diseases by 63%. The Global Fund partnership has been tackling HIV, TB, and malaria-related drug resistance for years and aims to play a critical role in combating AMR efforts by providing screening, early diagnosis, treatment, prevention, care, and support, which are critical to reducing resistance to the medicines for these diseases and other antimicrobials. These actions are essential to ensure we can effectively fight these diseases. Last week, the latest replenishment raised $11.34 billion, short of the $18 billion needed to stay on track to tackle challenges. Supporting the Global Fund is not merely charity; it can also be a step toward African health sovereignty, where access to lifesaving treatments isn’t at the mercy of political shifts elsewhere in the world. It can facilitate countries’ transition to self-reliance by lowering the rate of new infections and saving money; for every dollar we put into prevention today, we save $7 in treatment and care savings down the line. I and the other ONE Campaign youth advocates urge the European Commission to pledge at least €800 million at the earliest opportunity. Consider this a down payment on a safer future where we take steps together to counter the threat of AMR, and an investment in our collective defense mechanism against these three diseases. 2. Give us a voice One of the best things governments can do to support youth-led movements is to provide a platform. Right now, we’re using digital tools like WhatsApp and TikTok, but our message can only travel so far. A platform with endorsement from national authorities would boost credibility and trust. If we could have just five minutes to pitch AMR, for example, on national television, think about how many people we could reach across generational divides. At the AU-EU summit, I would like to see actual youth representation. Often, youth advocates are brought in for a selfie and then sent to the corner of the room. Give us a real seat at the table. Train and mentor us to communicate our proposals effectively at the political level. Beyond tokenism, bring youth right to the center of decision-making. Education and economic opportunities for young people are key. We have a wealth of bright young minds. And we have seen even small investments in education rippling across Africa. We are capable beyond donor aid. If we can only look within, we will be able to achieve so much more.