LUTH Becomes First Organisation in Africa to Get BSAC GAMSAS Accreditation

Mary Nnah

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) management has announced that its goal of meeting the level of quality required by the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) Global Antimicrobial Stewardship Accreditation Scheme (GAMSAS) has been achieved.
BSAC GAMSAS is a global accreditation scheme that sets a high level of quality that any antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes must surpass to be seen as proficient in the safe and effective usage of antibiotics.
AMS is a collection of activities that supports safe and effective use of antibiotics without risks of harm or danger, which helps keep antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at bay.

Being the first organisation in Africa to achieve BSAC GAMSAS accreditation, LUTH’s accreditation demonstrates her dedication to reducing the threat of AMR globally by supporting healthcare personnel, who are responsible for the safe use of antibiotics.
Speaking on the recently achieved  milestone by LUTH at a press briefing on Tuesday in Lagos, the Chief Medical Director, LUTH, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo,  said, “We are proud to be the first organisation in Africa to achieve BSAC GAMSAS accreditation.”

He said that the accreditation process was supported by the BSAC GAMSAS team, and LUTH management acknowledged their assistance.
“BSAC GAMSAS accreditation is a valuable tool for organisations that are committed to improving AMS. It provides a framework for organisations to develop and implement effective and sustainable AMS programmes, and it helps to ensure that these programs are meeting high standards of quality,” Adeyemo, added.
Speaking further, he said, “LUTH is committed to providing high-quality care to its patients, adding that  BSAC GAMSAS accreditation is a significant milestone in the institution’s efforts to combat AMR and support antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). We are proud to be recognised for our work in this area.”

Chairman, LUTH Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee and Clinical Microbiologist, College of Medicine, University of Lagos,  Prof. Oyin Oduyebo, said, “AMR is a growing global health threat.

“It occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that cause harmful diseases, change over time and no longer respond to medicines that once could treat them effectively due to unnecessary use, inappropriate use and overuse of antibiotics because of a lack of awareness of the public.

“AMR can lead to longer, more expensive hospital stays, increased risks of death, and the spread of infections to others,” explaining further that AMS was a key strategy for preventing and controlling AMR.