BY PHESHEYA KUNENE - EDITOR
MBABANE – Eswatini has formally closed the Fleming Fund Country Grant Phase II, concluding a far-reaching E38.2 million antimicrobial resistance (AMR) programme that government and partners say has fundamentally reshaped the country’s capacity to detect, monitor, and respond to one of the most serious public health and development threats of the modern era.
The close-out breakfast meeting, held on Friday in Mbabane, brought together principal secretaries, senior government officials, development partners, scientists, and technical experts to reflect on achievements, lessons learned, and the long-term sustainability of AMR interventions as the grant draws to an end on 31 December 2025.
At the centre of discussions was a clear message, the end of the Fleming Fund grant must not signal the end of AMR action in Eswatini.
Chairperson of the Antimicrobial Resistance Coordinating Committee (AMRCC), Dr Bavukile Kunene, disclosed that a cost analysis has estimated that E6 526 608.49 will be required in 2026 alone to sustain priority AMR interventions. He stressed that domestic financing will be critical to protect the gains made and to ensure continuity of surveillance, coordination, and policy implementation.
The Fleming Fund Country Grant Phase II was implemented with financial support from the United Kingdom Government, technical leadership from ICAP at Columbia University, and strong national ownership from the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Of the original GBP 2 million allocation, GBP 1.76 million, approximately E38 239 283, was invested in strengthening integrated AMR surveillance systems across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors, firmly anchored in the One Health approach.
Since its inception in February 2024, the programme focused on transforming Eswatini’s AMR response from fragmented efforts into a coordinated, evidence-driven national system. Central to this transformation was significant investment in laboratory infrastructure. Four additional laboratories were renovated and equipped, including the Water Laboratory under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, the Crop Laboratory at the Malkerns Research Station under the Ministry of Agriculture, and microbiology laboratories at Piggs Peak and Mankayane hospitals under the Ministry of Health.
More than E1.12 million was spent on laboratory renovations, while E3.18 million was invested in modern laboratory equipment for these new facilities. In addition, laboratory reagents, consumables, and equipment maintenance services were procured for all 10 sentinel surveillance sites at a cost of E6.88 million, ensuring consistent and reliable testing capacity across the country.
To improve efficiency and geographic coverage, a customised sample transportation vehicle valued at E845 829.79 was procured and donated to the Department of Water Affairs laboratory. This has enabled routine collection and transport of environmental samples from water bodies nationwide, strengthening environmental AMR surveillance for the first time at scale.
Capacity building formed another cornerstone of the programme. More than E2.13 million was invested in training and workshops to equip laboratory scientists, surveillance officers, and technical personnel with skills aligned to World Organisation for Animal Health and FAO standards. These efforts significantly improved data quality, laboratory performance, and the use of surveillance data for decision-making.
Through collaboration with the University of Eswatini, an additional E2.06 million was invested in establishing and maintaining a sheep blood collection centre and renovating a biology laboratory at the Luyengo Campus. This intervention addressed a long-standing supply gap while laying the foundation for sustainable pre-service and in-service training, including the development of an AMR-focused curriculum.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Principal Secretary underscored that antimicrobial resistance is not only a health issue but a national development challenge with direct implications for agriculture, food systems, trade, and environmental sustainability.
“Antimicrobial resistance cuts across human health, animal health, agriculture, food systems, trade, and the environment. This is why Eswatini adopted the One Health approach from the very beginning,” the Principal Secretary said.
He noted that the investments made under the Fleming Fund had transformed the agriculture sector’s diagnostic capacity from a fragmented system into a structured and functional AMR surveillance network, enabling evidence-based decision-making and improved disease control.
From the environmental perspective, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy highlighted the often-overlooked role of ecosystems in the spread and persistence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. The MNRE Principal Secretary said the inclusion of environmental surveillance under Phase II was a critical milestone, allowing Eswatini to monitor AMR in water systems and strengthen environmental governance in line with national AMR strategies.
“The environment is not an afterthought in AMR containment. It is central to understanding transmission pathways and protecting both public and animal health,” the Principal Secretary said, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to sustained cross-sector collaboration.
ICAP at Columbia University, the implementing partner, described the close-out as a transition rather than a conclusion. In his address, ICAP emphasised that the relationships built, systems strengthened, and institutional capacity developed under the grant would outlive the project itself. He praised the leadership of the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Natural Resources and Energy, as well as the coordinating role of the AMRCC, for driving national ownership of the programme.
Stakeholders agreed that the Fleming Fund investment has elevated AMR on Eswatini’s national agenda, positioning it as both a health security priority and a development concern. The programme has strengthened surveillance systems, improved data sharing across sectors, enhanced national dialogue, and laid the groundwork for sustained governance and leadership.
As the country looks ahead, the focus now shifts to sustaining and expanding these gains through increased domestic financing, continued multisectoral coordination, and policy decisions informed by quality local data.
The meeting concluded with a collective call to action, to strengthen surveillance systems, scale up public awareness on AMR, deepen One Health collaboration, and ensure that the fight against antimicrobial resistance remains firmly embedded in Eswatini’s national priorities.
