Report on the Drive-AMS masterclass in Tanzania from March 25 to 27, 2026

In recent years, the Drive-AMS masterclass has been held in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya as part of the Drive-AMS Africa project, led by Jeroen Schouten. From March 25 to 27, 2026, the masterclass took place for the second time at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, the national academic hospital of Tanzania. Since late 2024, this hospital has been one of the collaboration partners of Radboudumc. This year, the Drive-AMS masterclass was once again a success.

Nine regional hospital teams, consisting of a doctor, pharmacist, microbiologist, and infection prevention specialist, developed a practical project plan over three days. In this plan, they measured and improved a specific issue regarding proper antibiotic use and infection prevention. This took place under the leadership of Teske Schoffelen (internist-infectiologist) and Alma Tostmann (epidemiologist) from Radboudumc, Anisa Papathanasiou (pediatrician) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and Tanzanian colleagues led by Dr. Salim Massoud (microbiologist) and Dr. Anniemarie Maumba (epidemiologist).

Teske Schoffelen coordinated the masterclass from Radboudumc. "We give this course in close collaboration with the Tanzanian colleagues, where the content is adapted to the local context. Because the course was now being given here for a second time, a lot of responsibility rested with the local team. That went very well. The hospital teams worked hard, but they all went back to their hospitals very satisfied with a feasible project plan. In the coming 12 to 18 months, each team will get to work with the improvement plans."

In the follow-up program of Drive-AMS, these hospital teams are supported with webinars and membership of SPICE. Alma Tostmann stated: "Countering the spread of resistant microorganisms in Tanzanian hospitals is just as important as countering the development of resistance. It was very nice to help the hospital teams with drafting a project plan. Measuring is knowing. That ultimately makes improvement visible, also for the hospital management of these teams."

Photo: Drive-AMS Masterclass in Muhimbili National Hospital, with Dr. Salim Massoud (microbiologist and Tanzanian coordinator) and Dr. Mbwana (Ministry of Health, Tanzania) standing on the right.

Call to Collaborate Against Antimicrobial Resistance in Africa

At the end of the three-day masterclass, Dr. Faraja Chiwanga, Director of Medical Affairs of the Muhimbili National Hospital, emphasized the crucial role that healthcare professionals play in countering the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in African healthcare institutions. She urged the participants to apply the acquired knowledge and share it with their colleagues. Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen also paid attention to the Drive-AMS masterclass.

In Africa, particularly in the Sub-Saharan region, the burden of antimicrobial resistance is heavy. Many African countries have a limited healthcare infrastructure, inadequate diagnostic capacity, and weak regulations for the use of medicines. Because of this, antibiotics are often used excessively or incorrectly, which encourages the development of resistance. Because so many infectious diseases occur, the demand for antibiotics is high. This further contributes to frequent and incorrect use. This region has one of the highest mortality rates from antimicrobial resistance. This underscores the need for stronger surveillance systems, improved laboratory diagnostics, and awareness among both healthcare professionals and the population.

International Cooperation

In total, the masterclass (made financially possible by ICARS) has already been given to more than 400 hospital teams in more than 40 countries. Currently, our experienced Drive-AMS trainers are training other trainers who can give the course themselves in the coming years. Anisa Papathanasiou, for example, is one of them. The Drive-AMS group of Radboudumc has released the full methodology of the successful implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals in the handbook Antimicrobial Stewardship. A practical guide to implementation in hospitals, provided with practical tools and examples.

Coincidental Encounter

In 2003 side by side as students in Nijmegen, now together in the fight against antimicrobial resistance in Tanzania. Dr. Faraja Chiwanga studied for a few months at Radboudumc during her medical studies at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC). There, together with Alma Tostmann, at the time a Biomedical Sciences student, she followed the elective courses International Public Health (KVZ1 and KVZ2) from Henri van Asten. Now in 2026, they met each other again in Tanzania.

Photo: Alma Tostmann and Dr. Faraja Chiwanga.