Stopping AMR at the Source: Tackling Self-Medication, Drug Pollution and Environmental Risks

For Mollyn Anyango (not her real name), taking amoxicillin has become an almost routine response to any common cold, flu or persistent headaches.

The Mikindani Estate resident says she rarely visits a health facility whenever sick or down with flu or cold,She instead, she turns to over-the-counter medication, which she says provides temporary relief.

“Anytime I feel a headache, or flu I just go to a nearby dispensing  chemist and buy any antibiotics I want.They never ask me any question",she says.

Anyango who works at an Export Processing Zone in Changamwe, has been self medicating for as long as she can remember.She sometimes increases the dosage or switches to another brand.Her reliance on amoxicillin has gradually become a habit.Any sign of illness, amoxicillin is her sure bet dosage.

Her experience, however, highlights a wider public health concern of the growing culture of self-medication and inappropriate use of medicines, which experts warn can contribute to the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Researchers warn that AMR is increasingly threatening the effectiveness of medicines used to treat infections in humans, animals and plants.

Projections indicate that antimicrobial resistance could contribute to as many as 8.22 million deaths annually worldwide by 2050, if urgent action is not taken.

In Kenya alone, an estimated 6,670 deaths have been attributed to AMR.

Experts attending the AMR Governance and Financing Summit 2026, held at PrideInn Hotel in Mombasa, say tackling the problem requires more than simply increasing funding for healthcare.

Dr Edna Mutua, a Health Systems Researcher, says the fight against AMR must take into account the entire ecosystem.

She says antimicrobial resistance cannot be addressed by focusing solely on human medicine,but also practices in animal production and agriculture can have consequences for human health.

“Sometimes the issue might be how we are producing animals that end up as food for us, and that means it has an impact on human health,” she says.

Dr Mutua also points to human behaviour, including how medicines are used and disposed of, as another important factor.

“How we dispose of the medicines that we do not choose ends up impacting the environment,” she says.

Kenya Medical Research (KEMRI )Chief Executive Officer Prof. Elijah Songok said AMR can no longer be treated as a silent or distant threat.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr Martin Bundi, Prof Songok called for concerted action across different sectors to address the growing menace.

“The growing resistance of microorganisms to medicines threatens to reverse decades of progress in modern medicine, making common infections more difficult and costly to treat and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, severe illness, and death,” he said.

Prof Songok reaffirmed KEMRI's commitment to strengthening Kenya's response through surveillance, laboratory networks, research partnerships and support for national policy development.

He said the country needs sustained investment in surveillance systems, laboratories, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship, research and workforce development.

Prof Songok also stressed the importance of collaboration between national and county governments, research institutions, healthcare providers, regulators, development partners and communities.

Deputy Director of Veretinary Services Dr John Kariuki said vaccination of livestock is among the disease control mechanism to safeguard the public.