Antibiotic resistance: ZIG supports German Epidemic Preparedness Team in Rwanda

Interactive group work during the training of 60 health workers from Rwandan hospitals. Photo: RKI

On request of the Ministry of Health Rwanda and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), the German Epidemic Preparedness Team (SEEG) conducted a 9-day training in Kigali, Rwanda, in September 2023. Coordinated by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), experts from the Robert Koch Institute, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) held trainings on the topics of ‘Prevention of antibiotic resistance (AMR) in clinical and veterinary settings’ and ‘Infection prevention and control (IPC)’.

In close cooperation with the Rwandan partners, more than 60 healthcare workers from over 25 hospitals from all over the country were trained. The aim of the mission was on the one hand to refresh skills in AMR and IPC and on the other hand to implement and strengthen effective structures to prevent nosocomial infections and antibiotic resistances.

Participants of the training on infection prevention and control in Kigali in September 2023. Photo: RKI

A public health expert from the ZIG 4 unit (Public Health Laboratory Support) conducted a 4-day training on infection prevention and control which included core components of infection prevention and control, namely clinical waste management, IPC assessment tools as well as cleaning and disinfection. By implementing interactive training methods, the 34 participants independently developed ideas for how to improve and strengthen clinical structures in the context of infection prevention and control.

All in all, the German Epidemic Preparedness Team contributed to the implementation and strengthening of structures in the field of infection prevention and control in order to minimise antibiotic resistance in clinical and veterinary contexts in the future.

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