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This Geoff Mercer Award report is written by Nicola Foxlee, PhD candidate in the Department of Applied Epidemiology who aims to improve antibiotic stewardship in Vanuatu through investigating patterns of resistance over time.

During 2018, 2019 and 2022, I conducted research into antibiotic prescribing and antibiotic resistance in Vanuatu for my PhD. 

In October 2022, I was awarded the Geoff Mercer Award by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health at ANU to fund a visit to Vanuatu to share my findings with the Ministry of Health and Ni-Vanuatu health workers.

I was invited by the Vanuatu Ministry of Health to present my research findings during World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW) in 2023.

WAAW is a World Health Organization (WHO) campaign held annually to raise awareness and improve understanding of AMR and to promote the judicious use of antimicrobials across one health domains. 

The 2023 theme for WAAW was ‘Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together’ and the event took place during the third week of November.

Nicola Foxlee

My presentation was held in Vila Central Hospital, Vanuatu’s main referral hospital and attended by staff from a range of health professions, hospital departments, and the Ministry. 

A lively discussion over a hearty lunch followed the presentation. My visit also gave me the opportunity to re-connect with my research collaborators in the microbiology laboratory, hospital dispensary, and the Ministry.

One of the highlights of the week was the ‘Power of young people in the fight against AMR’ webinar, which was hosted by the WHO Office for the Western Pacific and involved a discussion amongst WHO, future AMR champions (youth leaders), Miss Earth, and others, all of whom shared their ideas and experiences. 

The aim of this dialogue was to empower young people to become involved in the fight against AMR, both globally and nationally.