By Nafisat Makinde
Abuja, Nigeria – In a significant step towards addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Nigeria, the Federal Government has introduced a groundbreaking digital solution. The Surveillance and Prescribing Support for Antimicrobial Stewardship Resource Capacity Building (SPARC) App was launched on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Abuja.
Building on this momentum, the SPARC App was developed in collaboration with the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and funded by the Fleming Fund. This cutting-edge platform is designed to promote responsible antibiotic prescribing and reduce the development of drug-resistant infections.
According to Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the SPARC App is a “weapon in our fight to protect lives and preserve the effectiveness of medicines.” Furthermore, the app serves as a digital compendium of Nigeria’s Standard Treatment Guidelines for infectious diseases and incorporates local and international treatment protocols.
To achieve its objectives, the SPARC App is exclusively for use by healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, and prescribers, to guide and standardize antimicrobial prescribing practices. As a result, the app’s launch is a significant step towards addressing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria.
In line with this effort, Pharm. (Mrs.) Olubunmi Aribeana, Director, Food and Drug Services Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the importance of collaboration in her welcome address. She hailed the project as a model of multi-sectoral collaboration and digital innovation, praising the contributions of past leadership and technical teams, including the Pharmaceutical Services Division and the SPARC App Champion, for the successful upload and integration of Nigeria’s national treatment guidelines on the platform.
Moreover, the SPARC App’s development is a testament to the government’s proactive approach to addressing public health challenges. Consequently, with the launch of this digital tool, Nigeria joins a growing number of countries adopting innovative solutions to combat complex global health threats.
In addition to these efforts, Yakubu James, Deputy Director and Nigeria’s SPARC App Champion, outlined Nigeria’s leadership role in AMR response, policy development, and ongoing revisions to the Essential Medicines List and National Drug Formulary. He reiterated the Federal Ministry of Health’s commitment to building a resilient health system that responds effectively to AMR through digital tools, capacity building, and policy support.
As part of this commitment, the Federal Government’s National Action Plan on AMR (NAP), now in its second iteration (NAP 2.0), and coordinated through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), demonstrates its dedication to combating AMR.
Ultimately, the launch of the SPARC App is a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to promote responsible antibiotic prescribing and reduce the development of drug-resistant infections. With this digital tool, healthcare professionals in Nigeria will have access to reliable, evidence-based information to guide their prescribing practices, ultimately contributing to improved public health outcomes.
