Uganda’s Champions Leading the Fight against Antimicrobial Resistance: Dr. Birabwa-Male

Doreen Birabwa-Male, Medical Director and Deputy CEO of CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, has been a champion in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Uganda. As a leader in the field, she has extensive experience in infection prevention and control (IPC) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Dr. Birabwa-Male previously worked as the Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital, the biggest hospital in Uganda, and was involved in implementing IPC and AMS interventions. The biggest challenge in addressing AMR is the attitude of health professionals, who often prioritize other tasks over IPC and AMS. Dr. Birabwa-Male emphasizes the need to change this attitude and focus on quality of service delivery. She notes that even in challenging conditions, such as patient overload, lack of running water, and sewage leakage, IPC can be implemented to reduce healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) and improve health service delivery. Dr. Birabwa-Male has made progress in implementing IPC and AMS interventions in Uganda, with the support of the Ministry of Health and other partners. The Ministry has established a dedicated team to address AMR and has provided training and logistics to support IPC and AMS. Dr. Birabwa-Male also emphasizes the importance of the One Health approach, which involves collaboration between human and veterinary medicine to address AMR. The role of women in strengthening IPC and AMS at health facilities is significant, according to Dr. Birabwa-Male. She notes that women are well-positioned to become AMR champions and leaders in their settings, and recommends that USAID and MTaPS invest in women to support their involvement in the fight against AMR. Dr. Birabwa-Male's recommendations for fellow leaders and professionals in the fight against AMR include continuous learning and getting involved in opportunities to learn and share knowledge with others. She also emphasizes the need for a critical mass of professionals to work together to reduce HAIs and AMR in Uganda and globally. In terms of national and local government support, Dr. Birabwa-Male recommends that the Ministry of Health prioritize and address IPC and AMR by providing necessary support, especially training in AMS. She also emphasizes the need for specialists in this area to be facilitated and recognized to take the mandate forward. The fight against AMR requires a sustained effort from all stakeholders, including government, healthcare professionals, and civil society organizations. Dr. Birabwa-Male's experience and recommendations highlight the importance of IPC and AMS in reducing HAIs and AMR in Uganda and globally.