July 2022: Fleming Fund Fellows from Malawi successfully trained research assistants who will help collect poultry, human and environmental samples for the collaborative project. As part of their fellowships in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, the Fleming Fund fellows in Malawi have developed a project to characterise resistance patterns in Escherichia coli isolated from poultry, humans and environment in the Central Region of Malawi. This study is one the first systematic studies of AMR in the poultry sector in Malawi, and hopes to help establish a robust surveillance approach for AMR in the country. The work involves six fellows, bringing together contributions from human health and animal health, to develop a comprehensive One Health understanding of AMR. Team orientation and training Following final ethical approval, the planned study was ready for a 50-day implementation phase beginning in mid-July 2022. The fellows recruited a number of research assistants to contribute to sample collection activities, and held a successful two-day introductory meeting for the new team members on July 5 and 6, 2022, at the Ministry of Health in Lilongwe. Image L to R: Mike Luwe, Harry Milala, Catherine Kamwana, Ronald Chitatanga and Williams Mwantoma. The objective of the orientation meeting was to ensure that all research assistants involved in the research activities were effectively trained to ensure samples and data are collected according to the approved protocol. Various teaching methods were used to facilitate the learning process, including lectures, focus group discussions, and role-playing. Image Fleming Fund fellows and research assistants at an orientation session in the conference room of the HIV/AIDS Division of the Ministry of Health in Malawi. Sample collection underway In accordance with the objectives established during the development of the training materials for this RA orientation exercise, 12 research assistants were certified for subsequent data collection. The team has now been deployed to the field to acquire the samples that will be analysed for antimicrobial resistance. Image Fleming Fund fellows from Malawi with the successfully recruited research assistants. The training at the outset of the project went very well, and ensures that our research assistants are familiar with the SOPs to be followed during the study. This will facilitate standardised data and specimen collection in the field, and allow robust analysis of the data acquired. Mike LuweAnimal Health Officer at the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Malawi and AMU/C Surveillance Animal Health Fellow Related Links Fleming Fund Fellowship Scheme Publication date 16 Aug, 2022
