Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is emerging as one of Africa’s deadliest but least visible public health threats that cause more deaths on the continent than tuberculosis, malaria and HIV combined, health experts have warned.

Speaking during the Kenya National AMR Conference 2026 in Mombasa under the theme: “Working Together to Tackle AMR in Kenya,” experts called for urgent, coordinated action to curb what they described as a silent epidemic that claimed nearly five million lives globally during the Covid-19 pandemic period.

Prof Sam Kariuki, continental lead for the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative and a Senior Researcher at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), revealed that approximately 27.5 out of every 1,000 deaths in Africa are caused by infections that no longer respond to available antibiotics.

“AMR is not a disease you can see, but it results in death because infections like malaria, tuberculosis or typhoid cannot be treated using available antibiotics. It is a faceless problem, yet huge,” Prof Kariuki said.

He noted that while Covid-19 claimed an estimated 3.6 million lives worldwide, antimicrobial resistance related infections killed nearly five million people during the same period, underscoring a crisis that has received far less public attention.

Common illnesses such as typhoid, fever, cholera and bacterial bloodstream infections are increasingly becoming difficult to treat due to widespread resistance, threatening the effectiveness of routine healthcare services across Kenya.

Prof Jay Berkley, a paediatric infectious disease specialist with over 30 years of experience in child health research along the coast region, emphasised the need for robust surveillance systems to monitor resistance patterns in hospitals, communities and agricultural settings.

“We need to know what is happening in our settings to find solutions. Surveillance requires organisation, materials and support from ministries, hospitals and funding partners,” Prof Berkley said.

Berkley explained that resistance levels vary significantly between rural health facilities and intensive care units, making it essential to base treatment decisions on localized data.

Ongoing research at KEMRI and other institutions is exploring new antibiotics and identifying existing drugs that remain effective. Accordant to Head of Division of Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Resistance at the Kenya National Public Health Institute Irungu Kamau, KE<RI has identified key drivers of resistance that include over-the-counter antibiotic sales, poor prescription adherence and inappropriate veterinary practices.

“We are exposing our bacteria and viruses to traces of antimicrobials, causing them to develop resistance that transmits between humans, animals and through the environment,” Dr Kamau said and vouched for one health approach that integrates human, animal and environmental health sectors.

Prof Kariuki pointed out to simple but underutilised interventions such as proper handwashing, sanitation and hygiene, which he said could reduce infections by nearly 50 per cent. He also emphasised the role of vaccination, particularly against typhoid, cholera and respiratory infections affecting children.

He highlighted a troubling paradox in access to antibiotics, noting that wealthier urban populations can easily buy antibiotics without prescriptions, while children in rural communities continue to die from treatable infections due to lack of access to basic medicines.

Chair of KEMRI Board of Directors Dr Abdullahi Ali warned against improper medication use, saying even commonly used drugs can cause serious harm when misused.

“There is nothing called half dose or quarter dose. When given a prescription, take drugs according to the way you are instructed,” Dr Ali said. He added that poor livestock medication practices also fuel resistance when contaminated meat enters the food chain.

The experts called for multi-sectoral public awareness campaigns, urging the involvement of political leaders, religious institutions, educators and grassroots communities to address antimicrobial resistance.

“We need data that moves people to act, not just data for the sake of it. I suggest that we educate school children as they can play a critical role in spreading awareness messages within households and communities,” said Prof Kariuki.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Chari Suche and Sitati Reagan