From October 9 to 10, 2025, the Ifakara Health Institute, in partnership with the St. Francis Regional Referral Hospital (SFRRH) and international collaborators, hosted the Second Course on Management of Infections in Times of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). 

The training, approved by the Medical Council of Tanganyika (MCT) was held at SFRRH in Ifakara, Morogoro. It brought together 24 young healthcare professionals from across Tanzania. The goal was to strengthen their clinical and laboratory skills to better manage infections in an era where AMR poses an increasing threat to global health.

Equipping clinicians with skills to combat AMR
AMR is one of the most pressing health challenges in modern medicine, undermining the effectiveness of treatments for common and life-threatening infections. This two-day intensive course is designed to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and real-world practice. 

Through lectures, hands-on laboratory sessions, and interactive case discussions, participants will enhance their ability to diagnose and manage infections such as sepsis, respiratory, abdominal, and skin infections. They will also gain knowledge on microbiological techniques for pathogen identification and resistance testing, essential in understanding the mechanisms driving antimicrobial resistance. 

The training highlights the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and rational antibiotic use—ensuring that healthcare providers make informed, evidence-based decisions to preserve the effectiveness of available treatments. 

Guided by leading experts
The course was led by Prof. Dr. med. Maja Weisser, an Infectious Disease Specialist at IHI and the main organizer of the training. She was joined by a team of facilitators, including PD Dr. med. Martin Rohacek, Dr. Andrew Katende, Dr. Getrude Mollel, Dr. Franzisca Mmbando, Dr. Martin Mtula—all from Ifakara—alongside Peter Mang’ara, the microbiologist from SFRRH, Dr. Magreth Erick Macha from SFUCHAS. 

Building on previous training success
This year’s training builds upon the success of the inaugural course held in September 2024 in Ifakara, which brought together a similar group of health professionals. The 2024 course, jointly organized by the Chronic Diseases Clinic of Ifakara (CDCI), St. Francis Regional Referral Hospital, Swiss TPH, and the University Hospital Basel, focused on equipping clinicians with practical skills for diagnosing and treating infections to meet clinical needs in low-resource settings.

Read more here.

Advancing the fight against AMR
By leveraging lessons from the earlier training—such as structuring interactive sessions, balancing theory with practice, and focusing on Tanzanian’s clinical realities—the 2025 course further enhances participant’s ability to apply knowledge effectively in their daily work. The ultimate goal is to empower young Tanzanian health professionals to lead the fight against AMR.