Chukwu Obinna 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has launched an innovative programme to bridge language gaps in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health threat.
Unveiled at the SayAMR Language Hackathon in Abuja on Friday, the initiative seeks to translate AMR awareness messages into Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, and Pidgin English to make science more accessible and relatable to communities nationwide.
Head of Disease Prevention and Chair of Nigeria’s AMR Coordinating Committee, Dr Tochi Okwor, said, “Antimicrobial resistance is not only a scientific issue but also a language and cultural challenge.”
“For effective engagement, we must communicate in ways people understand,” she added.
The hackathon brings together the NCDC, Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Health Trust, the University of Lagos Centre for Infection Control and Patient Safety, and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.
Experts say the approach will empower grassroots groups — including farmers, traders, and market women — to understand how resistance spreads and why responsible antibiotic use is vital.
WHO Technical Officer Chavan Laxmikant described the effort as “innovative and timely,” warning that AMR is a “silent pandemic.”
The World Bank-funded Health Security Programme, Dr Ayodele Majekodunmi called it “a powerful tool for public health education through language and technology.”
The hackathon supports Nigeria’s National Action Plan on AMR and the One Health framework linking human, animal, and environmental wellbeing.
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Hussaini Ibrahim 
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