In a move to bolster Nigeria’s fight against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the Federal Government has launched the Surveillance and Prescribing Support for Antimicrobial Stewardship Resource Capacity Building (SPARC) App—a cutting-edge digital tool designed to promote responsible antibiotic prescribing and curb drug misuse.
The SPARC App was officially declared live by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, during a high-level national event in Abuja.
Describing the app as “a weapon in our fight to protect lives,” Prof. Pate emphasized its potential to preserve the efficacy of life-saving medicines for future generations.
“Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious global public health threats of our time,” Pate noted. “The SPARC App is our strategic response to equip healthcare professionals with evidence-based tools for responsible prescribing.”
Developed in collaboration with the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA) and funded by the Fleming Fund, the SPARC App integrates Nigeria’s Standard Treatment Guidelines (NSTG) with international best practices, including protocols for COVID-19.
It is expected to soon incorporate antimicrobial use guidelines for animals, pending regulatory approval.
Targeted exclusively at healthcare professionals—including doctors, pharmacists, and prescribers—the app serves as a digital guide for prudent use of antibiotics.
It aims to ensure medications are prescribed only when necessary, at the correct dosage and duration, to reduce the emergence of drug-resistant infections.
Highlighting the global urgency, Prof. Pate recalled that in 2015, the World Health Assembly adopted Resolution WHA 68.7, which called for immediate action through a Global Action Plan (GAP) on AMR.
He urged all prescribers in Nigeria to begin using the SPARC App in their clinical practice, noting that feedback from its use would be vital in refining and optimizing its impact.
In her welcome address, the Director of the Food and Drug Services Department, Mrs. Olubunmi Aribeana, praised the app as a product of multi-sectoral collaboration and digital innovation.
“The SPARC App represents the joint efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the Federal Ministry of Environment, CPA, and international partners.
“When fully implemented, it can transform how antibiotics are prescribed and reduce treatment failures caused by AMR,” she said.
Nigeria’s SPARC App Champion and Deputy Director in the Ministry, Mr. Yakubu James, underscored the country’s leadership in AMR response, citing ongoing policy efforts, including the revision of the Essential Medicines List, the National Drug Formulary, and the upcoming National Antimicrobial Stewardship Policy for Human Health.
With the launch of the SPARC App, Nigeria joins a growing list of countries leveraging digital health solutions to tackle complex global health threats.
The initiative marks a renewed commitment to public health security, rational medicine use, and sustainable healthcare delivery.