Official launch of the Master in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Science

Thursday, July 11, 2024 marked the official launch of the DELGEME Plus Master in AMR program, focused on combating antimicrobial resistance. The ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Bouréma Kansaye, the Rector of USTTB, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, as well as the Director of DELGEME Plus, also coordinator of the Master. Also participating were researchers from the PDNA and AAAMR networks, teachers and students from the first cohort, from seven English-speaking and French-speaking African countries: Cameroon, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria and Tanzania. It should be noted that 40% of the students are women.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms that cause infections (bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses) manage to survive a drug that should normally eliminate them or stop their growth. This problem represents one of the greatest health challenges worldwide.

To address this issue, DELGEME Plus, in partnership with the Faculty of Pharmacy of the USTTB, has set up this two-year Master’s program, a first in the French-speaking sub-Saharan African region. This rich and comprehensive curriculum is taught by internationally renowned teacher-researchers, specialists in AMR, from 16 sub-Saharan African countries, including Mali. The main objective is to provide students with high-level training to meet the challenge of AMR.

This Master aims to train a new generation of African scientists, capable of filling the skills gap in the field of antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa. The program offers a wide range of skills, combining theoretical and practical aspects.

It covers themes such as epidemiology, surveillance, the fundamentals of AMR, bioinformatics, modern sequencing technologies, “omics” approaches, genetics, molecular epidemiology, infection prevention tools, rational management of antimicrobials, as well as the exploitation of traditional knowledge and pharmacopoeia.

DELGEME Plus students benefit from scholarships, laptops and a bus for educational travel. This program is open to students who have validated Semester 8 of Pharmacy and those who have validated Semester 10 of Medicine.

Many thanks to the Faculty of Pharmacy, USTTB, the teaching team and all those who contributed to the success of this project. This Master is a key step in the fight against AMR and provides students with essential skills and tools to meet this global challenge. We wish the students great success.