FG’s Digital Innovation Empowers Healthcare Workers, Strengthens National Efforts Against AMR
By Onwe Wisdom|Pan Afric Reporters Abuja.
In a major leap toward combating one of the most urgent global health threats of our time, the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched the SPARC App, a powerful digital tool designed to support rational prescribing and reduce the misuse of antibiotics across the country’s health sector.
The Surveillance and Prescribing Support for Antimicrobial Stewardship Resource Capacity Building (SPARC) App was unveiled during a national event held in Abuja on Friday.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate according to a press release e-signed by the ministry’s Head of Information & Public Relations,
Alaba Balogun declared the application “Live in Nigeria,” describing it as a game-changer in the country’s response to the rising challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
“This is not just a digital platform, it’s a weapon in our fight to protect lives and preserve the effectiveness of medicines,” said Prof. Pate, represented at the launch by Pharmacist (Mrs.) Olubunmi Aribeana, Director of the Food and Drug Services Department.
The SPARC App, developed in partnership with the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and funded by the Fleming Fund, serves as a mobile reference guide for healthcare professionals. It features Nigeria’s Standard Treatment Guidelines (NSTG) for infectious diseases and includes international treatment protocols, including those for COVID-19. It will soon integrate veterinary antimicrobial use guidelines once approved, a significant step in addressing AMR through the One Health approach.
Targeted exclusively at trained healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, and other prescribers; the SPARC App is intended to support standardized, evidence-based prescribing. By guiding clinicians on when and how to use antibiotics appropriately, it aims to reduce treatment failures and curb the emergence of drug-resistant infections.
Prof. Pate called on all prescribers in Nigeria to adopt the app immediately, highlighting its role in ensuring that every antibiotic prescription is backed by the best available evidence.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist treatment, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of spread and death. In 2015, the World Health Assembly adopted Resolution WHA 68.7 to implement a Global Action Plan (GAP) against AMR. Nigeria has since adapted this into its own National Action Plan (NAP), currently in its second phase (NAP 2.0), coordinated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
The SPARC App aligns with the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) pillar of Nigeria’s AMR strategy, covering human, animal, and environmental health.
In her welcome remarks, Pharm. Aribeana, represented by Mr. Tunde Atanda, Director of the National Food Safety Quality Programme, described the SPARC App as a milestone in inter-ministerial and international collaboration.
“This app, already active in 22 Commonwealth countries, represents the joint efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, NCDC, Ministry of Livestock Development, Ministry of Environment, CPA, and our global partners,” she said. “Its full deployment in Nigeria could significantly reduce inappropriate antibiotic use and curb AMR.”
She acknowledged the contributions of previous leadership and technical teams for successfully integrating national guidelines into the platform.
Yakubu James, Deputy Director and Nigeria’s SPARC App Champion, showcased the nation’s strides in public health innovation, from national policy to the ongoing development of a National Antimicrobial Stewardship Policy for Human Health.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to leveraging technology, capacity-building, and policy reform in addressing AMR and improving health outcomes.
With the launch of the SPARC App, Nigeria joins a growing league of countries embracing digital health innovations to confront AMR. This bold move underscores the government’s resolve to protect public health, promote rational medicine use, and secure the future of effective treatment.
