Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has intensified its push to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR), warning that misuse and overuse of antibiotics was fuelling tougher infections across the Lake Region.
The call came as health workers, students and partner institutions marked this year’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week under the global theme “Act Now: Protect the Present, Secure Our Future.”
JOOTRH Senior Director for Clinical Services Dr Dedan On’ong’a said the region was already facing a silent but escalating crisis, with infections that once responded to standard treatment now requiring stronger, costlier medicines.
“Antimicrobial resistance is no longer a future threat it is happening right here in our hospitals. If we fail to act across human health, animal health, food systems and the environment, we will lose the life-saving medicines we rely on,” Dr On’ong’a said.
A major area of concern, he said, was infection prevention within hospitals calling on health workers to adhere to the set guidelines to reverse the tide.
Studies indicate that 20–40 per cent of healthcare-associated infections arise from contaminated hands of health workers.
Across JOOTRH wards and theatres, the hospital, he said, has tightened traffic control, reinforced patient-preparation protocols, and intensified decontamination practices.
Dr On’ong’a challenged other facilities in the region to submit samples to the JOOTRH microbiology laboratory to guide evidence-based prescribing.
“You cannot fight AMR without data,” Dr On’ong’a said. “We are encouraging all facilities to send samples for culture and sensitivity testing. Treatment must be guided by evidence, not guesswork.”
He warned that if AMR continues unchecked, routine procedures such as surgeries, caesarean sections, dialysis and cancer treatment could become increasingly dangerous.
“This is a fight we cannot postpone,” Dr On’ong’a said. “We must protect antibiotics today if we hope to save lives tomorrow.”
Nurse Jeriah Kwamboka, an Infection prevention and control (IPC) champion, stressed that simple lapses in hygiene have devastating consequences.
“Every missed hand-wash can lead to an infection that did not need to happen. That infection will require antibiotics, and many of those antibiotics are losing power,” she said.
Pharmacist Dr Cynthia Atieno raised concern over the growing misuse of strong antibiotics such as third-generation cephalosporins.
“Antibiotics are not painkillers, and they are not cure-alls,” she said. “People buy them for viral illnesses, they stop doses halfway, they share leftover medicines. Every one of these behaviours accelerates resistance.”
Her colleague, Dr Vivian Anyango, said pharmacists must take a firm stand.
“We are the last gatekeepers between a patient and a drug,” she said. “We must ensure proper prescriptions, proper dosing and proper patient counselling. Stewardship starts with us.”
Students from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton and KMTC formed a large part of the audience, many expressing eagerness to take up frontline roles in IPC.
KMTC nursing student Janet Achieng’ said the battle begins at the bedside.
“If we get hand hygiene and PPE use right, we reduce infections drastically,” she said. “That means fewer antibiotics and fewer complications.”
By Chris Mahandara
