Author: Sarah Daniel
A Global Stage for AMR Champions
The seventh edition of the Antibiotic Guardian Awards was held on Monday, June 9th, 2025, in a hybrid format, bringing together healthcare professionals from the UK and beyond to share best practices and honour remarkable contributions in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This annual event is a flagship initiative of the ongoing Antibiotic Guardian campaign, spearheaded by the UK Health Security Agency in collaboration with the UK’s devolved administrations and various professional bodies. The event not only offered a platform for shared learning but also served as a celebration of the impressive work being done globally to combat AMR.
Launched to promote awareness and encourage commitment, the Antibiotic Guardian campaign is designed to engage both the general public and professionals in human and animal health about how to curb the rise of resistant bacteria and reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics through simple but impactful pledges made on the campaign’s dedicated platform.
Attendees included representatives from various UK health organisations as well as international guests, highlighting the global scope of the campaign and the shared commitment across borders to address this urgent health crisis.
Celebrating Innovation Across Categories
The 2025 Awards featured a comprehensive range of categories which include:
- Animal Health
- Agriculture and Food Supply
- Children and Family
- Community Communications
- Diagnostic Stewardship
- Health Student of the Year
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Innovation and Technology
- Multi-Country Collaboration
- Prescribing and Stewardship
- Public Engagement
- Research
- Das Pillay Antimicrobial Stewardship Memorial Award.
Notably, this year introduced a new category (Tackling Health Inequalities in AMR) aimed at identifying and addressing disparities in health outcomes. This addition aligns with the health inequalities objective outlined in the 2024–2029 UK National Action Plan for AMR.
Ducit Blue Foundation Takes the Spotlight
It is within this powerful context that Ducit Blue Foundation made its mark. In April 2025, our project was shortlisted under the Multi-Country Collaborations category (a proud moment that affirmed the credibility and impact of our work). Our submitted project titled “Uniting African Youth for One Health Leadership: Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance Across Borders Through Mentorship, Innovation and Capacity Building,” is a Pan-African internship and mentorship programme focused on equipping young professionals across 19 countries to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) using a One Health approach.
Across three successful cohorts (2020–2021, 2021–2022, 2023–2024), the programme has engaged 51 interns, 34 mentors, and 59 facilitators from 19 African countries, and has provided technical training, leadership development, and cross-border collaboration opportunities, producing practical projects aligned with global AMR strategies.
Alumni from the programme have launched NGOs, reached over 5,000 people through awareness campaigns, and earned global recognition including the Diana Award. With plans to expand partnerships, host in-person cohorts, and scale its alumni network, the project is building a powerful youth-led movement for AMR solutions across Africa.
Global Recognition for African Innovation
From a shortlist of compelling entries across multiple nations, Ducit Blue Foundation was announced the winner of the Multi-Country Collaborations category at the award ceremony. This recognition represents more than just a win; it is a testament to the effectiveness of coordinated African solutions to a global challenge. It acknowledges the innovation, creativity, and passion of our team, the strength of our partnerships with the FAO Nigeria, NIMR, One Health Lessons, and IPSF AfRO, and the dedication of the youth who made this project a reality.
A Team Effort Worth Celebrating
Our heartfelt appreciation goes to every member of the Ducit Blue team who poured their expertise and passion into this work including Estelle Onyekachi Mbadiwe, Beulah Suleman, Charles Ogu, Hafeez Hamza and Love Omoniyei as well as every mentor, facilitator, and alumni who contributed to this remarkable journey.
Fuelled by Recognition, Driven by Purpose
Being recognised on such a global stage reaffirms our commitment to deepening our impact, expanding our reach, and sustaining youth-led leadership in antimicrobial stewardship across Africa. This follows our previous submission in 2020 (Children and Family Category) and 2022/2023 (Public Engagement Category) where we were highly commended. We are not only proud but also inspired to continue this critical work with even greater resolve.
To view the full list of winners and learn more about the awards,
visit- bit.ly/DBFa06w02.
