In a bid to strengthen public understanding and community participation in the fight against Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has launched an initiative to translate AMR awareness messages into Nigeria’s major indigenous languages.
The initiative according to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), unveiled during the SayAMR Language Hackathon held on Friday in Abuja, seeks to improve grassroots communication on AMR by developing widely accepted terminology in Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin English.
Dr Tochi Okwor, head of disease prevention at the NCDC and chair of Nigeria’s AMR Coordinating Committee, said the project addresses both scientific and cultural barriers in public health communication.
“For effective engagement, we must communicate in ways people can understand,,” she stated.
The NCDC partnered with the Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Health Trust, the Centre for Infection Control and Patient Safety, University of Lagos, and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities to deliver the initiative.
According to Okwor, translating AMR concepts into indigenous languages will empower farmers, traders, students, and community members to understand how misuse of antibiotics contributes to resistance and affects overall health.
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Supporting the move, Chavan Laxmikant, the World Health Organisation’s technical officer for AMR in Nigeria, described the initiative as “innovative and timely,” noting that AMR — often termed a “silent pandemic” — begins at the community level.
He drew parallels with India’s multilingual communication strategy, stressing the need for culturally tailored messages to promote behaviour change.
Also speaking, Ayodele Majekodunmi, project lead for the World Bank-funded Health Security Programme in West and Central Africa, commended the hackathon for engaging youth and empowering communities with accurate, relatable health information.
Chidinma Ibe, head of infection prevention at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, added that translating complex medical information into local languages enhances infection prevention practices at the grassroots.
Meanwhile, Haruna Andrew, secretary-general of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, highlighted Nigeria’s linguistic diversity as a key asset in health communication. “Language is not just communication; it connects culture, education, and empowerment,” he said.
The SayAMR Language Programme aligns with Nigeria’s National Action Plan on AMR and the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health.
Through this multilingual effort, authorities hope to make AMR knowledge more accessible, drive responsible antibiotic use, and strengthen community engagement in safeguarding public health.
