On the 2nd February, 2026, the East, Central and Southern African Health Community (ECSA-HC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ICARS to collaborate to accelerate evidence-based solutions for AMR. The signing took place at the closing of the AMR Pre-Conference Meeting, setting a powerful tone just one day before the 76th ECSA-HC Health Ministers’ Conference.
Speaking about the MoU, Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe, Director General of ECSA-HC, said:
“AMR action is not unlocked by declarations alone—AMR action is unlocked by delivery. Delivery demands that we move beyond agreeing that AMR is a threat, to agreeing—very concretely—on what we’ll do next, how we will pay for it, and how we will hold ourselves accountable for the results.”
Helle Engslund Krarup, Director of Operations at ICARS, welcomed the announcement saying:
“Partnerships are essential in AMR control. This MoU comes at the right moment to strengthen our collective impact.”
This strategic framework focuses on translating evidence into policy, mobilising resources, and implementing concrete One Health solutions to tackle antimicrobial resistance across the ECSA-HC region.
