Nigeria and 13 Other African Countries Face Rising Drug-Resistant Infections
Testing for drug resistance in wildlife health research related to Serengeti migration.
A sweeping new report by the Africa CDC has flagged Nigeria and 13 other African nations for alarming rates of drug-resistant infections. Based on over 187,000 lab tests, the study reveals widespread resistance to critical antibiotics, especially in Nigeria, Ghana, and Malawi. Vulnerable groups like the elderly and hospital patients are most affected. Yet fewer than 2% of health facilities are equipped for bacterial testing, with most lacking reliable digital data collection systems. The report warns that without urgent investment in laboratories, surveillance, and digital systems, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could reverse decades of health progress on the continent. With resistance outpacing current efforts, experts are calling on African governments to act swiftly to contain this mounting public health crisis.
Nairametrics