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

Thursday, July 11, 2024 marked the official launch of the DELGEME Plus program’s Master of Science dedicated to Antimicrobial Resistance. This event took place in the presence of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Pr Bouréma Kansaye, the Rector of USTTB, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, the Director of DELGEME Plus and also coordinator of the Master, researchers from the PDNA and AAAMR networks, teachers and students of the first cohort from seven Anglophone and Francophone African countries, namely: Cameroon, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria and Tanzania, 40% of whom are women.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when infection-causing microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses) survive exposure to a drug that would normally kill them or stop their growth. AMR is undeniably one of the world’s greatest health challenges. For this reason, DELGEME, in collaboration with USTTB, has set up this two-year Master of Science programme. This programme is the first of its kind in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa. It is rich in content and is led by internationally renowned research professors, experts in their respective fields, from sixteen sub-Saharan African countries, including Mali. Its aim is to provide students with the best possible training for dealing with AMR.

The opening of this Master’s programme aims to train young African scientists to fill the huge human capacity gap in the field of antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa. The programme will equip students with a wide range of integrated AMR skills. It is acombinaison of theoretical and practical training in epidemiology, surveillance, AMR fundamentals, bioinformatics, new sequencing technologies and “omics” methodologies, genetics, molecular epidemiology, infection prevention tools, efficient antimicrobial drug management, advocacy, exploitation of traditional knowledge and pharmacopoeia, etc.

DELGEME Plus fellowship holders have been provided with laptops and a new bus for their educational travel. The course is open to students from the 5^th  year class in Pharmacy and the 6^th  year class of Medicine

We would like to thank the USTTB, the Faculty of Pharmacy, the teaching staff and all those involved for their ongoing commitment to the success of this Master’s programme. This program will equip students with the knowledge and know-how to overcome antimicrobial resistance. We wish our students every success.