30 September 2022Staphylococcus aureus is the source of a skin infection that can turn deadly if drug resistant. Estimates regarding the most common resistant variation, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , exceed 100,000 deaths globally in 2019.
Africa, like every other continent, has an AMR problem. But Africa stands out because we have not invested in the capacity and resources needed to determine the scope of the problem, or how to fix it. Take MRSA. We still don't know what's causing the bacteria to become resistant, nor do we know the full extent of the problem.
The global health and pharmaceutical industries do not seem to consider solving this problem to be very profitable. Compare that to the urgency of solving COVID-19, which has been embraced - and interventions such as diagnostics subsidised- by governments eager to end the pandemic. The COVID-19 response has been characterised by innovations popping up literally every other week.