From left: Dr Joanna McKenzie with Dr Julhas Sujan (International Vaccine Institute), Professor Tahmina Shirin (Director, Bangladesh Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research), and Professor Nitish Debnath (Former Team Lead, DAI, Fleming Fund Country Grantee to Bangladesh) at the Bangladesh Inception Workshop in March 2024, aligning plans for the AMROH Regional Grant.
The Fleming Fund has awarded $2.475 million to Dr Joanna McKenzie from Tāwharau Ora School of Veterinary Science to support a One Health project aimed at enhancing surveillance for antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The Fleming Fund, a United Kingdom aid programme funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, supports countries across Africa and Asia in tackling AMR. The Fund strengthens surveillance systems through a portfolio of country and regional grants, global projects and fellowship schemes.
Dr McKenzie will be leading the Antimicrobial Resistance One Health Regional Grant – South Asia programme with a team of six staff members from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University and up to 14 external consultants.
“We have a diverse range of expertise for this project, including collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Science and Research in Christchurch, Utrecht University in the Netherlands, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, WorldFish based in Malaysia and Bangladesh, Charles Sturt University in Sydney, Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Brooke in Pakistan and independent consultants from Aotearoa New Zealand and Samoa,” Dr McKenzie says.
Head of the School of Veterinary Science Professor Jon Huxley highlights the significance of this recognition.
“This is an exciting project for the university, recognising our experience and leadership in delivering international One Health projects over the past decade.”
One Health is an integrated approach that brings together experts from the School of Veterinary Science, partnering with universities and international organisations worldwide to address global epidemics and pandemics. The approach aims to improve detection and response to emerging disease threats and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
Since the project’s initiation in March, the team has made substantial progress in delivering a co-ordinated workplan with four country grantees in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal. Sir Lanka is expected to join the programme soon.
The project addresses a wide range of objectives, including enhancing surveillance for AMR and antimicrobial use (AMR/U) in animals, aquatic species, food and the environment. It focuses on developing integrated One Health AMR surveillance, supporting data analysis, interpretation and engaging farmers and animal health practitioners to strengthen AMR/U data usage and promote rational antibiotic use in agriculture.
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