The AMR Narrative

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Raising Patient Voices at the UNGA High-Level Meeting, 2024

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) held on September 26, 2024, was convened with a critical objective: to galvanise international efforts to tackle the escalating global health threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The meeting aimed to reaffirm and accelerate commitments made by countries and stakeholders to address the spread of AMR, a growing problem that threatens human, animal, plant, and environmental health. The AMR Narrative actively participated in and coordinated several events both leading up to and during the High-Level Meeting. Read through the list below:

European Patients Forum: Three-part webinar series (June-September 2024)
Between June and September, The AMR Narrative co-hosted a series of webinars together with the European Patient’s Forum (EPF) which focused on how to amplify patient voices including in the community and policymaking.  Further to this, our Executive Director, Vanessa Carter provided capacity development training for 30 young patients in Brussels at their annual STYPA event.

Speakers included those with a lived experience of AMR, such as Ella Balasa, John Kariuki, Rob Purdie, Pernilla Rönnholm, Krista Bracke, Diane Shader Smith and Gavin Schranz.  Other speakers included Hana Bartakova, Interim Director, Health First Europe and AMR Patient Group, Antonella Cardone, CEO of Cancer Patients Europe, Dr. Danilo Lo Fo Wong, Regional Adviser Control of AMR at WHO Europe, James Malar, Rights and Gender Advisor at Stop TB Partnership,  Laura Alonso and  Ana Navarro at EU-JAMRAI 2, Mary Lynne Van Poelgeest-Pomfret (President World Federation of Incontinence and Pelvic Problems -WFIPP),  Dominique Monnet from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Malin Grape, Sweden’s Ambassador on Antimicrobial Resistance, Ministry of Health and Social Affairs

The webinars were moderated by Dr Francesca Chiara and Vanessa Carter (The AMR Narrative), as well as Elena Balestra and Claudia Louati (EPF).

Following the UN High-Level Meeting we wrote a joint statement reflecting our key asks here. Watch the webinar recordings here.

ReAct: Community dialogue on X.com (10 September 2024)
On the 10th of September, as a lead up to the UNGA, The AMR Narrative partnered with ReAct- Action on Antibiotic Resistance to host a community dialogue on X.com. The title of the discussion was around “How people can become community leaders to tackle the global challenge of AMR”. 
27 special guests participated, including patient organisations, community groups, patients and health professionals. The 60-minute session generated 1.4 million impressions. We also had the opportunity to partner with ReAct for a side event at the UN General Assembly.

Read more about the community dialogue on X here.

The Fleming Initiative – Disruptive Innovation in AMR: A collaborative approach to change (24 September 2024)
On the 24th of September, our Founder and patient survivor, as well as serving Chair of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors, Vanessa Carter (UK/South Africa) presented at several side events including the Fleming Initiative‘s Disruptive Innovation in AMR meeting on the 24th of September. The event had a special focus on a collaborative approach to change and fellow speakers included Dr John-Arne Røttingen, CEO, Wellcome Trust (Chair), Professor Alison Holmes, Centre for Antimicrobial Optimisation, Imperial College London, Dr Naveen Rao, Rockefeller Foundation, Professor Jim Collins, MIT, Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance and Master of Trinity College Cambridge, Dr David Reddy, Director General, IFPMA (Chair), Professor Anthony So, Johns Hopkins – IDEA Initiative, John Billington, GSK, Amanda Jezek, Infectious Diseases Society of America and Professor Mirfin Mpundu, USAID.

Vanessa focused on her experience overcoming AMR and emphasised the need to include patients and the public in the innovation process so that solutions are central to their needs. Anthony Darcovich (USA/Canada), a member of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors, also presented his patient perspective on the 23rd of September for the Fleming Initiative.

Global Action on Antimicrobial Resistance: Advancing Healthy Longevity and Sustainability under UHC – AMR Alliance Japan and Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) 25 September 2024
On 25 September, our founder, Vanessa also took part in a panel discussion which was co-hosted by the Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) and AMR Alliance Japan in partnership with the AMR Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Platform, CARB-X and Global Antibiotic R&D Partnership (GARDP).

Moderated by Ryoji Noritake (Chair, HGPI), speakers included James Anderson (Executive Director of Global Health, IFPMA), Angela Uyen Cateriano (Health Policy and Advocacy Advisor, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Katie Dain (CEO, NCD Alliance), Hajime Inoue (Assistant Minister for Global Health and Welfare, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare), Osamu Kunii (CEO and Executive Director, Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund), Norio Ohmagari (Director, AMR Clinical Reference Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM), Kevin Outterson (Professor, Boston University; Executive Director, CARB-X) and Takuko Sawada (Director of the Board and Executive Vice President, Shionogi & Co.).

Vanessa shared her story of survival and called for improving awareness among patients and the public as well as shared her perspective around why patient participation was important to developing sustainable solutions.

Danish Consulate General in New York (Denmark In New York) Sustainability Summit (25 September 2024)
The Danish Consulate General in New York in partnership with the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and Healthcare Denmark hosted a reception which focused on Addressing the Global Health Challenge of AMR through Innovative Solutions and Global Cooperation.

The on-stage programme aimed to bring together diverse viewpoints on this issue. Vanessa Carter, Executive Director of The AMR Narrative, shared her personal experience with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and emphasised the importance of including individual stories in raising awareness. “Numbers alone won’t suffice; they want to understand the real impact,” she explained.

Sonali Johnson, Head of Knowledge, Advocacy, and Policy at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), highlighted that the effects of AMR are already evident throughout the healthcare system. “This isn’t just an issue for the infectious disease community; it’s crucial for all global health.”

She noted that up to one in five cancer patients undergoing treatment are hospitalised with infections that require antimicrobial treatment.

A key takeaway from the event was that no single organisation or country can tackle this issue alone. Dr. Alaa Murabit, Director of Programme Advocacy and Communications for Health at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, stated, “The causes, drivers, and consequences are multisectoral. The voices addressing this must be as well.”

This sentiment was echoed by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen: “It’s a challenge that extends beyond health. Resistance threatens our collective future and calls for collective solutions.”

High-Level Meeting for AMR:  26 September 2024
Our Executive Director and Founder, as well as patient survivor, Vanessa Carter took part in panel 1 at the High-Level meeting which focused on addressing the urgent antimicrobial resistance crisis across the human, animal, plant, and environmental sectors through equity, access, building awareness, and innovation. She had earlier in May shared her story of survival as an opening speaker during the multi-stakeholder meeting in preparation for the high-level event.

She was joined by one of our board of trustees Dr Wendy Thompson (UK). Dr Nour Shamas who is a carer to her mother (Lebanon), member of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors and acts as an external advisor to the charity also participated in the panel 2 discussion which focused on human health, animal health and welfare, agrifood systems, and protecting the environment to tackle antimicrobial resistance, through integrated surveillance, capacity-building, sustainable resources, financing, and investment.

Our charity had several key asks which included the active participation of patients, carers, survivors and patient organisations in the fight to tackle AMR and developing meaningful mechanisms, including funding to enable their involvement.

During the plenary session, Ella Balasa from the USA and John Kariuki from Kenya, both members of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors, shared their inspiring patient stories, which resonated deeply with everyone in attendance. Watch the recording here.

While significant progress has been made in acknowledging the importance of including patients, carers, and survivors in the AMR response, as reflected in the Political Declaration, further efforts are necessary to turn this recognition into reality. Additionally, having more patient representatives and groups present at these important meetings is essential to ensure their voices are heard and considered in the decision-making process.

Cameron Prior

Cameron Prior

BVSc MSc PgCert CertAVP DipECVIM-CA MRCVS

RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine

Cameron is a European Diplomate in Small Animal Internal Medicine. Passionate about fungal disease, antimicrobial stewardship, endocrinopathy, and facilitating multiple studies to enhance the evidence base of veterinary medicine. Keen to build collaborative projects with colleagues across Europe and to promote clinical research in practice.

Abi Mc Alester

Abi Mc Alester

I am a graduate from the National University of Galway with an Honours BSc in Pharmacology, and a recent graduate from Maynooth University with a MSc in Immunology & Global Health. Throughout university, I was an active member of the Global Health Network, which was a student-led group focusing on health, equity, and international development. Here is where I became interested in the global impact of AMR and the multiple factors that influence its spread. I chose to focus my studies on the mechanisms behind resistance and vaccination design; however, I understand that in order to have a global impact, there needs to be global awareness.

The AMR Narrative provides lived experiences and stories from those affected by resistance, something I believe is so important and why I wanted to help share these stories on social media. Translating scientific knowledge into digestible and understandable language is critical for fighting resistance.

Nduta Kamere

Nduta is a global health pharmacist and AMR consultant recognised for her leadership in antimicrobial stewardship, One Health, and healthcare equity. She has shaped AMR strategies and advanced healthcare accessibility across Africa, with a significant portfolio that includes contributions to the Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) programmes. As Technical Lead, she oversaw the co-development of the Quadripartite Antimicrobial Resistance Toolkit for Youth Engagement, now used globally to drive advocacy and behaviour change.

Her expertise spans supply chains, pricing, and substandard and falsified medicines, and her research is published in the WHO Bulletin and peer-reviewed journals, informing regional and global AMR policy and practice.

Dr Marie-Anne Bouldouyre

Dr Marie-Anne Bouldouyre is an infectious diseases physician and hospital practitioner in Paris. Twelve years of clinical work in a suburban hospital shaped her understanding of access to care, patient relationships, and the daily reality of antimicrobial resistance.

Since 2022, she has led the Regional Antibiotic Stewardship Centre in Île-de-France and coordinates the national network, working with a multidisciplinary team to promote responsible antibiotic use and strengthen collaboration among healthcare professionals. She also continues to manage complex infections at Saint-Louis Hospital.

Convinced that antimicrobial resistance cannot be tackled by healthcare workers alone, she advocates for the active involvement of patients : understanding, questioning, and taking part in decisions about antibiotics. Their stories are essential to making this issue visible and concrete.

She is proud to collaborate with initiatives such as The AMR Narrative and hopes to foster similar projects in France to give patients a voice in this shared fight.

Dr Erva Cinar

Dr Erva Cinar is a London based paediatric resident doctor and clinical researcher with interest in infectious diseases.

She is currently completing a Master’s in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Through the World Medical Association’s Junior Doctor’s Network (WMA-JDN) AMR Working Group, she engages in policy and advocacy on antimicrobial resistance and stewardship at global level.

Alongside her clinical and academic roles, she works with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the International Child Health Group (ICHG); leads on organising teaching resources and educational events to improve research skills for UK paediatric trainees and for global child health professionals.

Hamu Madzedze

Hamu Madzedze is a seasoned Zimbabwean journalist with over 15 years’ experience.

She previously worked for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation as a reporter and sub-editor, before establishing an independent website, 365HealthDiaries, which focuses on health and gender issues.

She holds a BA in Media Studies and a BA (Special Honours) in Communication and Media from the Zimbabwe Open University, as well as a diploma from the Christian College of Southern Africa.

Her work has been recognised with several awards, including the Global AMR Special Mention Award (2024), the Sexual Health Rights and Equity Fellowship Special Mention Award (2025), and the Merck Foundation Award (2024) for outstanding coverage of health issues, gender, infertility, and genital mutilation, where she achieved third position in the Online Category.

Hamu is passionate about addressing AMR through the media.

Jomana F. Musmar

Dr. Jomana Musmar is a distinguished global policy expert and proactive leader with over fifteen years of government experience in strategic planning, operational design, and policy execution. Renowned for simplifying complex topics with expertise and diplomacy, she has spearheaded innovative solutions to global health challenges, shaped impactful policies, and advanced national and international missions.

As the Executive Director of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, she established and led the council’s operations, liaising with over 600 experts, worldwide, across government, industry, and academia. Her efforts culminated in the development of critical recommendations addressing antimicrobial resistance and interrelated One Health issues, influencing both domestic and global health strategies.

In her tenure as Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Office of Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS Policy, at the US Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Musmar oversaw the formulation and implementation of national health strategies for vaccines and a range of infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis. Her leadership and technical expertise facilitated groundbreaking policies during national emergencies, including responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and initiatives to combat congenital syphilis and childhood vaccination disruptions. Dr. Musmar holds a Ph.D. in Biodefense from George Mason University, a Master’s degree in Biomedical Science policy and Advocacy from Georgetown University, and is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Fluent in English and Arabic, she is a sought-after speaker and advisor, having represented the United States at premier global health conferences.

Her published works on antimicrobial resistance, pandemic preparedness, and national health security underscore her reputation as a thought leader and innovator in public health and biodefense.

Chris Shaffer

Chris Shaffer was a music, special education teacher, and high school principal for 45 years. At the end of his educational career, he was thrust into the world of AMR infections when a number of abdominal surgeries left him with an E-coli infection which failed to respond to antibiotics. After doctors in the USA left him with little hope for a cure, diminishing health, and a bleak prognosis, he set out on his own.

Chris found success in phage therapy at the Eliava Phage Therapy Center in Tbilisi, Georgia. With phage therapy giving Chris his life back, he has dedicated his retirement years to advocating for and helping raise awareness of phage therapy used for AMR infections. He tells the story of his phage journey in a book titled, Finding Phage: How I Partnered with a Friendly Virus to Cure My Deadly Bacterial Superinfection. His website, phagetherpyusa.com helps others learn to understand the healing power of phage therapy.

Demi Christofi

Demi is an Associate Scientific Director at a medical communications agency, with a background in microbiology and a longstanding focus on antimicrobial resistance. She holds an MSc in Microbiology, where she first became interested in the global challenge of resistance and the need to bring scientific understanding to wider audiences.

Demi’s career has centred on a simple but powerful belief: that how we communicate science matters. Her work focuses on making complex data clear, engaging, and accessible – whether for healthcare professionals, policy makers, or the patients most affected by infection and resistance. She has contributed to a wide range of AMR-focused projects, including educational programmes, congress communications and stewardship initiatives.

A central thread in Demi’s work is the importance of the patient voice. She is passionate about making sure real-world experiences of treatment failure, recurrent infections, and the anxiety surrounding resistance are not lost in the data. She believes that listening to patients and involving them meaningfully is essential for shaping more effective, human-centred responses to AMR.

Demi is also a strong advocate of the One Health approach, recognising AMR as a complex, interconnected issue that spans human health, animal health, and the environment. She is particularly drawn to efforts that move beyond siloed thinking and focus on practical, joined-up solutions.

In 2025, Demi joined The AMR Narrative as an Independent Advisor, where she supports the charity’s mission to centre communication, community, and inclusion in the global AMR response.

Outside of work, she is a Girlguiding unit leader and a qualified yoga teacher. These roles reflect her commitment to care, learning, and creating supportive spaces for others.

Andrea Hartley

Andrea has worked in health communications and campaigning for 3 decades. She is committed to fighting AMR through timely and appropriate communications globally,.

Andrea set up Skating Panda, the creative social and environmental impact consultancy, over a decade ago and drives its impact and growth. Focused on original and lasting public interest communications as well as issue strategy and advocacy, the Panda team has a track record of prompting tipping points in the status quo that drive better social and planetary outcomes.

Andrea’s combination of commercial marketing and development experience with deep issue knowledge have been sought by decision-makers at global summits, corporate and NGO board members, and have enabled her to set up multi-million fundraising platforms and push through policies that change and save lives. 

Andrea is Vice Chair of mothers2mothers, the world’s largest employer of women living with HIV, and a Board Director of Maymessy, a food poverty social enterprise.

A lifelong advocate for gender equality, she played a key role in establishing the UK’s Women’s Equality Party.

Esmita Charani

Professor Esmita Charani is a pharmacist and researcher investigating how we use antibiotics in different cultural and social contexts. She works with teams in the UK, India, and South Africa to develop research programmes investigating all aspects of antimicrobial resistance in human populations with a focus in hospital settings.

She has experience in communicating her research with patients and the public through various media including animations, blogs, and educational videos.