Antimicrobial Stewardship, Climate Resilience & Planetary Health

Nigeria faces a dual threat: rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to irrational antibiotic use, and a climate crisis that disrupts health systems through flooding, heatwaves, power outages, and waterborne disease outbreaks. At Open Health Foundation, we recognize that human health cannot be separated from environmental health. Our program integrates responsible medicine use, climate-smart health infrastructure, and preventive WASH solutions. 1. Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS)Unregulated access to antibiotics and self-medication is accelerating drug resistance in our communities. We enforce rational prescribing protocols within our facility through clinical guidelines, staff training, and prescription audits. We run community sensitization campaigns to educate patients and patent medicine vendors on the dangers of antibiotic misuse and the importance of completing prescriptions. Through our diagnostic capacity (including rapid tests), we reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and ensure treatment is evidence-based.Goal: To preserve the effectiveness of life-saving antibiotics and reduce drug-resistant infections among low-income families. 2. Climate-Smart Health System Integration. Frequent power outages and extreme weather threaten vaccine potency, service delivery, and safety. Solar-Powered Cold-Chain Storage: We operate a solar-powered cold-chain system to ensure continuous refrigeration of vaccines, insulin, blood products, and lab reagents, even during grid failures and fuel scarcity. This guarantees vaccine efficacy and reduces our carbon footprint. Sustainable Medical Waste Management: We implement safe segregation, solar-powered autoclaving, and eco-friendly disposal of infectious and sharps waste to protect staff, patients, and the surrounding community from contamination and climate-related health hazards. We also minimize single-use plastics where safe. Goal: To build a low-carbon, resilient health facility that remains operational during climate shocks. 3. Clean Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Interventions. Unsafe water is a major driver of diarrheal disease, cholera, and maternal infections. Community WASH Initiatives: We lead community sensitization on hand hygiene, safe water storage, and sanitation, alongside distribution of hygiene kits in schools and primary health outreaches. Water Testing & Safety: Our Environmental Health team conducts routine bacteriological testing of community water sources (wells, boreholes) and provides household water treatment guidance to prevent waterborne outbreaks. Our Integrated Goal: To create a climate-resilient, environmentally responsible health system that protects patients from both drug-resistant infections and climate-related health threats — advancing One Health, planetary health, and SDG 3, 6, 12, and 13.